Multiple-Choice Questions Human Body Nerve Impulses Multiple-Choice Questions Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia

Question 1 Shorter people have on average _____eye-foot Nerve Impulses Shorter people have on average _____eye-foot reaction times compared to taller people. longer b) shorter c) equal Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia

Question 1 solution Shorter people have on average _____eye-foot Nerve Impulses Shorter people have on average _____eye-foot reaction times compared to taller people. longer b) shorter c) equal For shorter people the distance from brain to the feet is shorter so the nerve impulse has less distance to travel. Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia 3

Question 2 Based on height differences alone a person Nerve Impulses Based on height differences alone a person that is 20% taller has an eye-foot reaction time ______ percent longer. a)10% b)20% c)40% Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia 4

Question 2 Solution Based on height differences alone a person Nerve Impulses Based on height differences alone a person that is 20% taller has an eye-foot reaction time ______ percent longer. a) 10% b) 20% c) 40% t = d/v, so that t is linear with distance. When d changes by a certain percentage, t changes in the same way. Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia 5

Question 3 A signal from the brain travels with Nerve Impulses A signal from the brain travels with constant velocity along the nerves. true b) false Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia 6

Question 3 solution A signal from the brain travels with Nerve Impulses A signal from the brain travels with constant velocity along the nerves. true b) false The signal propagates electrically along the neurons much faster than by chemical diffusion between the neurons. Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia 7