Help Me Collect Data for My Son’s Science Project, Get Free Stuff
I’ve got a favor to ask. Or, more accurately, as my 10-year-old son’s research assistant, I have a favor to ask. He’s working on a science project on reaction times, and he needs more data.
So I’m asking you to conduct a little experiment and send me the results. It’s easy, and it’s super-fun. Oh, yes. Super-duper-fun.
I worry that I may be overselling the “fun” aspect of this. Perhaps I should also emphasize that today’s Banjo Brothers Bike Bag Giveaway is based on participation in this experiment. Specifically, I’ll be selecting (at random) a winner from the people who send in information. The more people you collect info on, the greater your chances of winning.
How Fast Are You?
Here’s what you need:
- A ruler
- A table and chair
- A helper
Here’s what you do:
- Sit with your forearm on the surface of the table, with your writing hand extending over the edge.
- Have your helper position the ruler with the zero end between, but not touching, your thumb and fingers.
- Have your helper release the ruler without warning.
- As soon as the ruler is released, catch it as quickly as possible between your thumb and fingers.
- Repeat the process, noting your best effort of the two.
- Send me—either as a comment or as email—the following:
· Your age (it’s OK to just note “adult” for adults)
· Your gender
· Your best distance (rounded to the centimeter or half-inch)
Then do this same test on every single person you know, and send me their information, too. Make it an obsession. And while you’re at it, be sure to do this test on plenty of females. Looking at the results my son’s collected so far, I can see he’s shy around the ladies.
In the interest of full disclosure, I caught the ruler at 5 inches. That makes me faster than most, but not the fastest. The triathlete down the street beat me. Grrrr.
Thank you for your cooperation, and for your indulgence as I hijack my blog in the interest of my son’s grades.
Comment by Sue | 03.15.2006 | 4:32 pm
OOH, an experiment! I like experiments. I make a living ruining (I mean running) experiments. I’m looking for a new project at work and this sounds way better than anything I’ve thought of.
The only sticking point is that if I’m going to be involved, I have to repeat the experiment at least 3 times and then report the average score with the standard deviation or standard error of the mean. Otherwise, my dissertation comittee won’t accept the collected data and FINALLY give me my degree!
Botched
Comment by Unknown | 03.15.2006 | 5:35 pm
Hey Fatty—
Anything in the name of science. Anyway, I am at work and bored stiff.
Female
40+ (It’s not nice to ask a lady her age)
First attempt 3.5
Second attempt 4
Guess I beat you, huh? Or is it bad form to mention that?
Comment by Unknown | 03.15.2006 | 6:11 pm
Okay, I"m on a mission. I probably should skew this by submitting separately…but I will trust that you will see my unwavering commitment to this fine scientific undertaking and will reward me with that awesome Banjo Brothers Bag
F 30 4.5
F 28 7.5
F 30 8.5
F 30 8.5
F 30 9.5 (A total improvement from totally missing the ruler on the first attempt)
F 54 6.0
F 43 6.5
F 30 7.5
F 29 8.0
F 53 5.5
F 36 7.5
F 29 9
F 32 6.5
PS. I would totally ignore the ages on those noted as 29 and 30. I know these people and my guess is some of them are substantially older than what they admit to.
Comment by Fat Cyclist | 03.15.2006 | 6:34 pm
botched – i expect great things from your data collection. do a little analysis if you would, too. and run the whole thing through the gyroscopic spectrometer if it’s not too much trouble.
teegee – not only does your score make you faster than me, it makes you faster than everyone who’s done the experiment so far. nice! and thanks for submitting everyone in your office to this test. my son thanks you. and i do too.
Comment by Unknown | 03.15.2006 | 7:00 pm
Fatty, my husband always says I have quick reaction times…or was did he say that I tend to over-react? I’ll have to listen more closely next time.
Comment by Unknown | 03.15.2006 | 7:11 pm
F 2in
Comment by Unknown | 03.15.2006 | 7:11 pm
Forgot to mention age: 25
Comment by Tom Stormcrowe | 03.15.2006 | 8:14 pm
2.25, 2.5, 2.25, 3, 2.25 inches…..5 attempts, me, adult, 46, MaleNo bag though, give it to someone else!
Comment by Fat | 03.15.2006 | 9:05 pm
F – 2.3 inches – 23 y/o interesting similarity in numbers!
Hmm… I can’t help but think of all of the rulers you caused to be dropped today, lol.
~ Fat Chick
Comment by A Dawn Tinsley | 03.15.2006 | 9:36 pm
I’m feeling slow here…but I did get you an extra score from my coworker
Female 27 9.5
Female 26 10
Comment by Unknown | 03.15.2006 | 10:00 pm
Here’s another one.
Male 45 10"
I should put that in my next personal add…
Comment by Unknown | 03.15.2006 | 10:10 pm
And here are a few from the folks in my office.
M 47 6"
M 52 9"
F 50 8"
M 38 8.5"
M 35 12" (he just caught it by the very tip!)
M 45 7.5"
F 34 10.5"
Comment by Unknown | 03.15.2006 | 10:14 pm
You forgot to mention which end of the ruler we were supposed to drop first – the low side or the high side. It could cause huge discrepancies in your son’s results
Comment by Diego | 03.15.2006 | 10:21 pm
hey Mr. Fat Cyclist!
i’m a fat cyclist too, but i’ve been cycling less,
but weight more hehe
i remember doing this assignment way way way back when I was in grade 5 (way way way back then is only 5 grades and 6 years ago hehe)
Male 16 3.5 inches (me)
Female 37 7 inches
Male 44 4 inches
Male 43 5.5inches
Male 33 4 inches
Male 30 5 inches
well that takes care of my family, and a few family friends….
now on to my friends
Female 15 6inches
Female 15 8inches
Female 16 3 & one quarter inches
Male 16 2 and three quarter inches
Female 14 4 inches
Female 16 6 inches
Male 19 3.5inches
Male 18 3 inches
Female 16 4inches
~
now that this experiment is over, all my friends think i’m officially weird, no wait they already this
also, as a side note the faster reaction times tend to correlate to individuals that are either more athletic or play a lot of video games
for example the fastest reaction time, (2 and three quarter inches) was reached by a friend who plays hockey as goaltender, a point to think about???
Hope it helps, Mr. Fat Cyclist and Son
Comment by Tom Stormcrowe | 03.15.2006 | 10:42 pm
I developed my hand coordination and speed in combat shooting events with pistol, shotgun and carbine. I shot in the three gun and pistol only events in "Hogan’s Alley" type events requiring speed and precision.
Comment by Unknown | 03.15.2006 | 10:58 pm
So an interesting question would be to ask whether there is a significant difference betwen the scores of young women, older women, and young men and older men (might not have enough data for older catagories).
Once you get your data together, I can help you decide whether there is a "statistically significant" difference between whatever catagories you choose.
My all time favorite name for a textbook I used was "Intuitive Biostatistics." What a joke.
Botched
Comment by Big Guy on a Bicycle | 03.15.2006 | 11:35 pm
OK, here’s my results.
M40 – 2.0
F37 – 3.5
F of unestablished age (She-Mom) – 3.0
All three of our dogs were disqualified for lack of thumbs. Well, that plus the short attention spans and inability to understand the instructions.
Oh, and take me out of the ‘bag pool’. One is dandy enuf, thanks.
Comment by Tyler | 03.16.2006 | 2:42 am
Where’s my ruler? I can’t play this game with a tape-measure…I suspect innaccurate self-reporting anyhow. Lots of 7-9’s, then a bunch of these 2’s. How far apart am I supposed to hold my thumb and forefinger?
In other news, Ten Ways to Make Cycling More Comfortable
http://argentius.blogspot.com/2006/03/ten-ways-to-make-cycling-more.html
Comment by Unknown | 03.16.2006 | 11:12 am
Male, 26, 3.5
Female, 34, 5.5
Comment by BIg Mike In Oz | 03.16.2006 | 12:07 pm
M 38 12cm
F 33 18.5cm
M 11 11.5cm (I’m docking his allowance)
M 7 13.5cm (when he’s 11 I’ll surely have to dock his allowance)
F 5 28cm (on the third attempt)
Is there any allowance made for the ruler falling upwards due to the inverted gravitational field in the southern hemisphere?
Comment by Kelly | 03.16.2006 | 1:12 pm
I feel "Dad of the Year" is just around the corner for you. This is what we call GOOD PARENTING in the biz. Tell us what grade you/he gets. Wish I had any time at all to do this experiment, but I wanted to check in with you since it’s been an embarrassingly long time since I’ve read you.
All looks good with you. That’s great.
Comment by Unknown | 03.16.2006 | 1:39 pm
After 3 tries (well,more than that, but I don’t count the ones where my 7 y.o. assistant kept dropping the ruler outside my fingers, on my fingers, and just not releasing the ruler at all), my best score was a 1. That is for an adult female.
Comment by Unknown | 03.16.2006 | 3:48 pm
M, 24, 4 inches
I asked some colleagues to do this, they all replied with "12 inches" without apparently taking the test
Comment by Chris | 03.16.2006 | 6:04 pm
Some collegues and I did your son’s experiment at work.
Clarrisa (F)-4
Sandra (F)-3.25
Tyler (M)-3.5
Collette (F)-6
Cami (F)-5
Mario (F)-5
KC (F)-4
Toni (F)-7
Hope this helps.
Comment by Unknown | 03.16.2006 | 8:12 pm
fats,
unlike argentius, i tried this with a tape measure.
1st try- the tape measure zipped back up into
the holder-thingy when released.
2nd try- in the locked position, the big-silver-holder-
thingy smashed down on my thumb.
i suck at science experiments, sorry. you’re
son is smarter than me, give him the bag.
Comment by Andrew | 03.16.2006 | 9:02 pm
Dear Gregarious Gormand,
Here are my measurements: 2 x 7, 8 x 4, 14 x 12 x 27, 1 1 2 3 5 8 13 22 35 57 92, 22 x 22 x 22, 161/2, 41 v 90, 17 82 14 53.
I hope it helps.
Comment by Unknown | 03.17.2006 | 3:16 am
mmh, this test is mighty suspicious. are we somehow showcasing our inequities?
F (er, that’s female), 32 and I’m guessing I’ll come in at whatever shows super human strength. Lemme find a ruler and get back to you with true results. Both sans wine and with one (or two?) glasses under the belt.
Comment by Unknown | 03.17.2006 | 6:22 pm
Female 32 6in
Female 27 5in
Female 43 did not catch at all!!!!!
Comment by Jsun | 03.17.2006 | 9:50 pm
This was literally minutes of fun here at work and at home:
m,37, 3.5"
m,43, 8.5"
f,38, 6.5"
f,34,9"
m,4.5"
f,8"
Obviously the trick to a quick catch is to have your fingers closely spaced. I think I could get good at this. Any chance for sponsorship?
Comment by Unknown | 03.18.2006 | 3:44 pm
Fatty, hope this isn’t to late,
Male, 24, 6"
Female, 23, 6"
This was done very scientifically, since were scientists!
Keep turning the cranks,
Tim and Sarah.
Comment by Sarah | 03.20.2006 | 3:39 pm
Hope it’s not too late for the info, but here are two more data points:Male, 24: 6.5 inFemale, 23: 6 in
Comment by Sarah | 03.20.2006 | 3:40 pm
heh! Tim already posted ours, so ignore mine.
Comment by Unknown | 03.31.2006 | 12:23 am
Ah, Tapeworm. I have made a few trail offerings out there in years past. Which is OK; reflectors on a mountain bike are super bobo anyway and at least I left something back in the good ol’Pacific Northwest.
Comment by David | 04.8.2006 | 10:00 am
1st time in a situation like this, i wonder if the next time will be this stresful by.