Reaction Time LAB — Find your reaction time using the concepts of free fall

Keyboard: Space = get ready / catch (works even if a slider or text box has focus). You can also tap/click the ruler.
Setup
Catcher (student):
Mode:
g: Ruler:
Drop cue: View:
Device delay compensation: ms
A real ruler is seen instantly. On a computer the screen (frame wait + display processing) and the keyboard/mouse add roughly 30–80 ms, so the raw timer reads longer than your true reaction. This amount is subtracted from the raw time before the distance is calculated. Set it to 0 to see raw times. (Not applied to the simulated partner.)
Auto-calibrate device delay (tap-along test)
Press Space exactly in time with the flashes (don’t react — anticipate the steady beat, like tapping to music). Because you are predicting the beat, your reaction time drops out and what is left is mostly the device delay. 2 lead-in + 8 scored beats.
Lab handout: Objective · Materials · Procedure

Objective: Find the reaction time of yourself and your partner using the concepts of freefall.
Materials: Metric ruler, pen, and calculator.

  1. Drop ruler through your partner’s fingers. (sim: “Get ready”, the ruler drops after a random wait)
  2. Partner will react and close fingers to catch the ruler. (press Space / CATCH)
  3. Record the distance that ruler fell. (Convert to meters) (cm and m columns)
  4. Use this information and what you know about the acceleration due to gravity (g) to calculate your partner’s reaction time.
  5. Repeat for all group members. (change the Catcher name)

Lab write-up must include: 1. Objective 2. Materials 3. Procedure 4. Data 5. Analysis (calculations and formulas) 6. Conclusion (include a realistic error analysis).

Extension (not in handout): reaction distance while driving
Speed