Required Practical 7 - Reaction Time

• 1. Person 1 sits on a stool with the forearm of their dominant arm across the table and their hand over the edge
  2. Person 2 holds the ruler vertically with the 0 cm mark between Person 1's thumb and first finger
  3. Person 2 drops the ruler at a random time and Person 1 has to catch the ruler as quickly as they can
  4. Person 2 records the measurement on the ruler that is level with the top of Person 1's thumb.
  5. Person 1 has a short rest before repeating the test several times, and a mean is calculated
• Independent variable


  The person having their reaction time measured
• Dependent variable


  Reaction time
• Control variable


  • Starting distance between thumb and finger
  • Measure the ruler at the top of the thumb
  • Conditions of the room - e.g. lighting, background noise