Reaction Time- Physics Lab Carleton-Phys 1007 Essay

PHYS 1007 A
Name: Debbie Appiah

Lab 1: Reaction Time

Date Lab Performed:   6/05/2015
Submitted on: 13/05/2015
Section: Wednesday PM

Partner: Alaleh Jooya  
TA Name: Rick

Purpose
To measure personal reaction time for visual and audio stimuli and statistically compare them.
Theory
Reaction time is the measured time it takes for one to react to an external stimulus. Reaction times differ for various stimuli. This experiment measures one’s personal reaction time to both visual and auditory stimuli. Since the reaction time for such stimuli is usually between 150 and 350ms, it is inappropriate to use a stop watch as it lacks precision. Thus for this experiment, the student uses silent and audible switches and a clock/timer to measure reaction times to purely audible or visual   stimulus.
Apparatus
  * clock,
  * clicker,
  * Logger Pro file RT

The apparatus is very simple. A clock starts when a remote trigger switch is activated. This switch can be activated with or without a sound. A second switch stops the clock. The data collected during the experiment will be processed using Logger Pro software.

Figure 1: Reaction Time Apparatus.

Procedure
Part A- Visual Stimulus
1. While one student is watching the clock, the other student shall start the clock using the silent switch.
2. The student whose reaction time to a visual stimulus is being tested shall be watching the clock and should press the button to stop the clock as soon as the display on the clock changes.
3. The student being tested should be sure to look at the clock and not the partner’s hand as if seeing the partner push the silent switch in peripheral vision will bias the data. As well, the student who starts the clock should do so without exaggerated movements.
4. If a measurement is obviously wrong (i.e. the trigger switch didn’t stop the clock the first time the button is pushed, the student being tested was distracted, etc…), discard the data and reattempt...