[Phys-L] Re: Reaction Time (was Re: Human Error?)

[Rick Tarara <rtarara@SAINTMARYS.EDU>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bernard Cleyet" <anngeorg@PACBELL.NET>


> "Someone will always offer--well you might not have started and stopped
> the stopwatch precisely when the swing was at the MAXIMUM [bc's
> emphasis] of the swing."
>
> Since swing is written, I assume max. refers to max. displacement from
> the equilibrium position, not maximum speed, which is the point I
> thought EVERYONE was taught, whether by catechizing or just given, to
> use as the point to start and stop the timer.

Certainly not for timing a pendulum, especially hand timing.  The maximum
amplitude points are where the pendulum spends the most time--so the motion
is slower (although the acceleration is maximum) and it is easier to judge
the 'end points'.  Electronic timing might well use the equilibrium
position, but I would never have students use it for hand timing.

Rick
_______________________________________________
Phys-L mailing list
Phys-L@electron.physics.buffalo.edu
https://www.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l