Explain Why Average Time Provide A More Realistic Reaction Time Lab Report
PHYSICS LAB
REACTION TIMES
Mr. Brown
Name: Jisoo Lee
Partner: Seongwook Youn
Date: 5/9/17
Purpose: To measure human body’s reaction time to respond and act on unexpected events.
Apparatus: The following materials are required for this lab:
US dollar bill (new)
A meter stick
Diagram:
Procedure: Part A
To be done in groups of two. One of the two will hold a US dollar bill vertically. The partner will lay their arm on a table and stick their hand out of the edge of a table. The partner will have only their index finger and thumb out while having the dollar bill in between. The person holding the dollar bill will drop the money without any warning, but should not add any force by pushing as the person should only ‘drop’ the …show more content…
Name and Hand
Average Reaction Time (seconds)
Jisoo’s Left Hand
0.23
Jisoo’s Right Hand
0.20
Seongwook’s Left Hand
0.17
Seongwook’s Right Hand
0.18
Why Average Time Provide A More Realistic Reaction Time?
In this experiment, we can determine that human reaction time is not consistent throughout the entire experiment. There are ranges and have many deviations in data we have retrieved. As the data tables have many different values, it is hard to determine which value should be chosen. Also, as the median value of the data does not always mean it’s the most accurate data, it is most logical to calculate the average reaction time as the deviations can be cancelled out. To conclude, using the average value will be more accurate since the accuracy of the data will increase.
Percentage Error
After research, I have discovered that the average human reaction time is 0.25 for visual stimulus.
Calculating Percentage Error
%Error = Experimental value - Theoretical valueTheoretical value x 100
Using my left hand’s average reaction time as an example, which was 0.23 seconds, calculating the percentage error for this experiment, I have retrieved the following data.
%Error = 0.23 - 0.250.25 x 100
= …show more content…
This proves that my average reaction time values are plausible and makes sense, which again is proved through one of the kinematics equation. However, there may also be also be a few random and systematic errors which may have impacted my data values.
Lists of Sources of Errors
Suggested Improvements
The kinematics equation I have used only applies when there is no air resistance.
If possible, do in a place with no air resistance, such as vacuumed area if possible.
Air conditioner in the class may have impacted the direction of the fall (not completely straight)
If possible, do in an area without any air movements or possible turn off both fan and air conditioner.
The procedure did not tell us how much our index and thumb should be apart as sometimes the distance varied a lot which can drastically impact the result.
State how much distance there should be between the thumb and the index finger and make sure have that constant throughout the experiment.
Bibliography
“Experiment: How Fast Your Brain Reacts To Stimuli.” Experiment: How Fast Your Brain Reacts To Stimuli,
REACTION TIMES
Mr. Brown
Name: Jisoo Lee
Partner: Seongwook Youn
Date: 5/9/17
Purpose: To measure human body’s reaction time to respond and act on unexpected events.
Apparatus: The following materials are required for this lab:
US dollar bill (new)
A meter stick
Diagram:
Procedure: Part A
To be done in groups of two. One of the two will hold a US dollar bill vertically. The partner will lay their arm on a table and stick their hand out of the edge of a table. The partner will have only their index finger and thumb out while having the dollar bill in between. The person holding the dollar bill will drop the money without any warning, but should not add any force by pushing as the person should only ‘drop’ the …show more content…
Name and Hand
Average Reaction Time (seconds)
Jisoo’s Left Hand
0.23
Jisoo’s Right Hand
0.20
Seongwook’s Left Hand
0.17
Seongwook’s Right Hand
0.18
Why Average Time Provide A More Realistic Reaction Time?
In this experiment, we can determine that human reaction time is not consistent throughout the entire experiment. There are ranges and have many deviations in data we have retrieved. As the data tables have many different values, it is hard to determine which value should be chosen. Also, as the median value of the data does not always mean it’s the most accurate data, it is most logical to calculate the average reaction time as the deviations can be cancelled out. To conclude, using the average value will be more accurate since the accuracy of the data will increase.
Percentage Error
After research, I have discovered that the average human reaction time is 0.25 for visual stimulus.
Calculating Percentage Error
%Error = Experimental value - Theoretical valueTheoretical value x 100
Using my left hand’s average reaction time as an example, which was 0.23 seconds, calculating the percentage error for this experiment, I have retrieved the following data.
%Error = 0.23 - 0.250.25 x 100
= …show more content…
This proves that my average reaction time values are plausible and makes sense, which again is proved through one of the kinematics equation. However, there may also be also be a few random and systematic errors which may have impacted my data values.
Lists of Sources of Errors
Suggested Improvements
The kinematics equation I have used only applies when there is no air resistance.
If possible, do in a place with no air resistance, such as vacuumed area if possible.
Air conditioner in the class may have impacted the direction of the fall (not completely straight)
If possible, do in an area without any air movements or possible turn off both fan and air conditioner.
The procedure did not tell us how much our index and thumb should be apart as sometimes the distance varied a lot which can drastically impact the result.
State how much distance there should be between the thumb and the index finger and make sure have that constant throughout the experiment.
Bibliography
“Experiment: How Fast Your Brain Reacts To Stimuli.” Experiment: How Fast Your Brain Reacts To Stimuli,