Mechanics: Reaction Time

PIRA Class: 1C30.55

Purpose:
To apply basic kinematics to experimentally determine a student's reaction time.

Description:
Instructor holds the meter stick vertically so that the bottom of the stick is just above the students's hand. Instructor drop's the stick without announcing the drop and the student closes their hand to grab the stick as soon as possible. By measuring where the student grabs that distance can be used to calculate the time between the stick's release and the student's reaction.

Equipment:
Meterstick

Location:
Next to door for PHYS-102