REACTION TIME
ANALYSIS
The Analysis section of each experiment will provide you with a guide as to what calculations and plots must be performed on the Worksheet and turned in as part of your lab report.
2. Make
a histogram, i.e. a plot of the frequency of occurrence of a given reaction
time in mu vs. the reaction time itself. Put an arrow at the times
corresponding to: , ±
s, ±
2s. The bins you should use are listed in the Bin Table at cells B120:B135.
In the Frequency Table (F120:F135), enter the number of your reaction
time values that fall within the boundaries of each bin. Include
the upper boundary of each bin in that bin. For example, the
second bin runs from 6 to 8 mu. Get a count of how many of
your times were 6, 7 or 8 mu. Any time with 5 mu will
should be included in the first bin since it is the upper limit
of that bin.
3. Determine
the percentage of all 100 measurements that lie between ± s, and enter the results in cell of G138 on the Worksheet.
Repeat for ± 2s,
and enter the results in cell G139 on the Worksheet. Answer Question
4 on the Worksheet.
4. Average
the number of machine units from the 3 Calibration runs, and enter the
result in cell F148 on the Worksheet. Divide 180 sec by this
value to find the conversion factor from machine units to seconds
and enter the result in cell F149.
5. Use
this result to compute , s,
and sm in seconds by multiplying the values found in machine units in cells F34:F38,
or F64:F68 (depending on which data set you use) by the conversion
factor in cell F149. Record the results in cells C152:E152.
6. Compare your reaction time with your partner's reaction time by answering Question 5. The differences are significant if the mean values differ by more than the sum of the associated uncertainties in the means. Take the uncertainty in the mean to be equal to ± sm.