A meter stick is held vertically above your hand, with the lower end between you
ID: 1651476 • Letter: A
Question
A meter stick is held vertically above your hand, with the lower end between your thumb and first finger. On seeing the meter stick released, you grab it with these two fingers. You can calculate your reaction time from the distance the meter stick falls, read directly from the point where your fingers grabbed it.
Part A
If the measured distance is 17.2 cm , what is the reaction time?
A meter stick is held vertically above your hand, with the lower end between your thumb and first finger. On seeing the meter stick released, you grab it with these two fingers. You can calculate your reaction time from the distance the meter stick falls, read directly from the point where your fingers grabbed it.
Part A
If the measured distance is 17.2 cm , what is the reaction time?
Explanation / Answer
We have distance time formula
S = ut + 0.5at^2
u is initial velocity, as initially meter stick is at rest so u=0
S= .172m and a= 9.8m/s^2
Hence
S= 0.5*a*t^2 or t = sqrt(.172m/(0.5*9.8))
t = .187 sec