Materials:- 1 Ruler per Pair (Plastic or Paper)
Introduction:To introduce the hook, you can set the stage by asking the class if anyone ever considered becoming a fighter pilot. If some say yes, you can ask if anyone knows how fast they go. The answer is over 2500km/hr. Describe that in the time it takes them to blink, a plane can travel over 150m. At this point, you can say that we are now going to do a little test to measure our reaction time.
Procedure:1. Distribute one plastic or paper ruler to each pair of students.
2. One person within the pair will hold the ruler near the 30 cm mark and let the ruler hang vertically.
3. The other partner will place their thumb and index finger on either side of the 0 cm mark of the ruler. NOTE: the fingers should not touch the ruler.
4. Without giving any warning, the person holding the ruler will let go and the other partner is responsible for catching the ruler as quickly as possible.
5. The partner that released the ruler will then note and record the level, measured in cm, at which the catcher’s fingers caught the ruler. Be sure to measure from above the subject’s first finger.
6. The same person should be tested 3 times and then the average of their measurements calculated.
7. When this is finished, switch roles and measure the other partner’s reaction time.
8. Repeat steps 2-7. This time, the catcher of the ruler is to count backwards from 50 while awaiting the release of the ruler.
9. Repeat step 8 so that each partner has a turn.
10. After both partner’s average reaction time was calculated, convert this measurement to milliseconds using the chart above.
11. After this conversion, use the rating table below to quantify how good a fighter pilot you would become.
Explanation:This experiment provides an introduction into the concept of how the brain translates visual information, the falling ruler, into a voluntary or conscious motor command and action such as the grasping of the ruler between the catcher’s fingers.
Reaction time varies among individuals. The shorter the amount of time it takes to catch the ruler, the faster your reaction time. This means that the flow of information from with the observation that the ruler is falling (step 1 in the diagram to the right) to the brain’s message to grasp with your fingers (step 8 in the diagram) occurs at a faster rate.
By practicing this task, it can affect the associated centres in the brain, enabling you to respond faster to what’s happening in your visual world. However, the flow of information along the visual and motor nerve pathways is relatively constant even with practice. Reaction time really depends on the grasper’s attention and focus.
Why is ‘In the Blink of an Eye’ a worthwhile Hook Activity?This is a worthwhile hook because it is a fun and interactive activity, in which the entire class can participate. ‘In the Blink of an Eye’ relates to the students in that at some point throughout their childhood, one or more of them likely wanted to be a pilot or pursue some related career. It also enables the students to associate something they can’t physically see to something hands-on that they can relate to. Another characteristic of this hook that makes it worthwhile is its ability to take a complex function and demonstrate it as a simple example.
Course: SNC2P
Unit: Biology: Tissues, Organs and Systems
Expectations Addressed: B3.4 explain the general function of some of the systems in the human body (e.g., the function of the circulatory system is to transport materials through the body; the function of the digestive system is to absorb nutrients; the function of the respiratory system is to bring oxygen into and remove carbon dioxide from the body)
NOTE: This activity can also be adapted for Grade 7, 8 and 12 students.
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