Transcript Caffeine & Reaction Time

Caffeine & Reaction Time
D. Crowley, 2007
Caffeine & Reaction Time
To carry out an investigation into the effect of caffeine on
reaction time
Reaction Time
Caffeine is a common, legal drug (stimulant) which affects the
body in a variety of ways
It is found in many drinks, including coffee, tea, coke, red bull
etc…
Your task is to complete an experiment to answer: does caffeine
make you react quicker?
Planning
Write down a prediction for your experiment - say what you think
will happen to your reaction time after your have some caffeine,
and why
Write down a method for your investigation - consider: – How can you find out if caffeine affects someone’s reaction
time?
– What drink will you use, and how much?
– What will you measure, how will you take these
measurements and how often?
– Which factors will you keep the same, and which will you
change?
– How can this test be made fair?
Experiment
Write down your reaction time - record your resting heart rate
before you have had any caffeine
Then record your reaction time - have your partner hold a meter
ruler. At an unknown time the ruler is dropped. Where you catch
it can be recorded (always drop the ruler the correct way
around, and always measure from the bottom of your hand)
Now repeat all of the above immediately after you have had one
cup of coke - do not have more than this
Finally wait five minutes and again repeat all the experiments
Caffeine
Fill in your own table of results, and work out your averages: Average = (result 1 + 2 + 3) ÷ 3
Results (Graph)
Draw a graph of your results (one graph for heart rate, and one
for reaction time)
Label your graphs, make them clear, and draw a line of best fit
Effect Of Caffeine On Reaction Time
Effect Of Caffeine On Heart Rate
12
Reaction Time (cm) (Class Average)
No. Heart Beats Per Minute (Class
Average)
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
No Caffeine
Caffeine
Caffeine Presence
Caffeine >5 mins
10
8
6
4
2
0
No Caffeine
Caffeine
Caff eine Presence
Caffeine >5 mins
Conclusion & Evaluation
What does your graph tell you? What can you say about the
effects of heart rate and reaction time after caffeine is
consumed?
How accurate is this experiment? Are your results reliable?
Were there any anomalies? Are there enough results?
If you could improve this
experiment what would you
do?
Reaction Time Test
Have a go at the reaction time test - how quick are you?!
Reaction Time (Test 1)
Reaction Time (Test 2)