Driving SCIENCE STEM Activity 13 Collecting Data About Distractions

Introducing Reaction Time What do you know about NASCAR pit crews? How are they able to complete their tasks in less than 12 seconds? What other careers have to deal with reaction times and distractions?

Adding Distractions to the Experiment Add a Distraction What distraction will the sprinter experience? Eating a snack. Texting a team member. Engaging in a discussion. Reaching for a book. Shouting at a team member. Repeat the Team Activity Each student has a position: standing, kneeling, sitting, or lying down. One stands in front of the other students and drops a ball from shoulder height. One student times the sprint. One student sprints from his or her position from the starting mark and catches the ball before the second bounce. One student records the position and time.

Conducting the Experiment With Your Team Choose a distractor. Practice the steps with the distractor. Conduct the experiment. Record your team data in your notebook.

Reflecting On the Experiment Did your prediction match the result for your position? What was the effect of the distraction on your success at completing the task? What does this have to do with safe driving?

American Honda Foundation DuPont CU-ICAR Safety-Kleen, EcoPower Fluor Thanks to PDI2 partners who sponsored the development of this activity and provided professional development support:   American Honda Foundation DuPont CU-ICAR Safety-Kleen, EcoPower Fluor United States Conference of Mayors Thanks to race track partners who provided support for teachers: Darlington Raceway, Daytona International Speedway, Dover International Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, and Richmond International Raceway Copyright © 2015 Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina (SC).