Activity 2
How Fast is Your
Reaction?
The Nerve Cell
The main part of a nerve cell is the
cell body. The cell body contains the
main control center of the cell, the
nucleus and all the other structures
found in any typical body cell.
From the cell body extends several
hair-like branches called dendrites
(singular: dendrite). These structures
carry signals to the cell body from
other neurons or the environment.
Attached to the cell body is another
long, thick, tail-like structure called
the axon (plural: axons). The axon
carries the signals away from the cell
body.
The Nerve Impulse
Neurons are cells with the special
ability to carry signals or impulses.
Thoughts, emotions, learning, and
many body functions are carried by
nerve impulses in the neurons. A
nerve impulse is a combination of an
electrical charge and a chemical
reaction.
The nervous system is assisted by five
sense organs - the eyes, ears, nose,
tongue, and skin. These sense organs are
constantly receiving information from
the environment and sending messages
to the brain. These senses aid in the
survival of human beings.
A stimulus (plural: stimuli) is
any factor in the environment
that may trigger a nerve
impulse.
Activity 2
How Fast is Your
Reaction?
Objective:
•Measure the length of time of
response to catch a dropped
object.
•metric ruler
Materials:
•data chart
Procedure:
1. Construct a table like the one given below, to record
your data.
Procedure:
2. Have your partner hold a metric ruler at its end
with the highest number in cm.
3. Place the thumb and forefinger of your left hand close
to, but not touching, the end with the lowest number.
4. When your partner drops the ruler, try to catch it
between your thumb and finger.
Procedure:
Procedure:
5. Record where the top of your thumb is, when you catch the ruler. Thi
number gives how many centimeters the ruler fell.
6. Repeat steps 2 to 5 five more times and record the measurements on
the data table that you have constructed earlier.
7. Repeat steps 2 to 5 five more times using your right hand to
catch the ruler.
8. Repeat steps 2 to 5 five more times using your left hand with
your eyes closed. Your partner will signal you by saying "now"
when the ruler drops.
Procedure:
9. Repeat steps 2 to 5 five more times using your right hand with your
eyes closed. Record your data and observations.
10. Exchange tasks and drop the ruler for your partner.
11. To complete your data chart, change all the centimeters to
seconds by multiplying by 0.01.
12. After recording all the data, compute for the average by adding up
the measurements of all the trials and dividing it by the number of
trials.