Measuring Reaction Time - PRACTICAL - GCSE Physics Experiment

This video explains how to measure and calculate reaction time with a ruler in a practical experiment.

Can you catch a £5 note dropped between your fingers? Is it easy money? Well, it's harder than you think. In order to measure reaction time we use a ruler being dropped between someone's fingers and they have to react to it being dropped and catch it. Where they catch it gives us the distance the ruler has fallen during the time they take to react.

Using the SUVAT equation: s = ut + ½ at^2, we can rearrange to get an expression for time (u = 0m/s) in terms of acceleration due to gravity (a = 9.8 m/s^2) and distance: t = √(2s/a).

In order to be able to catch a £5 note, which is 125mm long, you need a reaction time of, t = √(2*0.125/9.8) = 0.16s.

Thanks for watching,

Lewis

Relevant for GCSE Physics 9-1 in the following exam boards:
AQA (including Trilogy)
Edexcel
OCR A
OCR B
WJEC (not specifically relevant but recommended)
Edexcel International IGCSE (not specifically relevant but recommended)

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