Think Fast, Act Fast

Practice catching rulers to calculate reaction time and how far a car travels during a given reaction time.

Key Questions

• How fast is your reaction time?
• How far can a vehicle travel during your reaction time?

Student Directions

1. View the Introduction video.
2. Download and print the Student Activity Sheet.
3. Do the activity and begin answering the analysis questions.
4. View the Conclusion video and finish answering the analysis questions.
5. View the video segment of "It's Basic Physics" to help review the science concept(s).

Central Nervous System (CNS): the part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord

"g": the symbol for the acceleration due to gravity, equal to 9.81 m/s2 at the Earth's surface

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): the part of the nervous system consisting of the nerves and ganglia outside the brain and spinal cord

Reaction Time: the elapsed time between the presentation of a sensory stimulus and the performance of the desired behavioral response

Speed: distance traveled divided by the time required to travel that distance (Ex. meters per second or miles per hour)