Most sports need fast reactions. It might be a sprinter going on the “b” of the “bang”, or an F1 driver seeing a gap and steering into it. So what affects your reaction speed, and can you improve it? This reaction test tool, from Glaxo SmithKline’s Scientists in Sport website, can help you test your own reflexes.
This could form part of a class investigation into some of the factors which affect reaction times. It’s a different approach from trying to catch a falling metre stick.
Scientists in Sport is an informal education programme developed by Glaxo SmithKline. It began in 2012 with a programme inspired by their partnership with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. GSK provided the laboratory, facilities and equipment that enabled expert analysts from King’s College London to run all the anti-doping testing, helping to ensure London 2012 was the cleanest Games possible.
The Scientists in Sport website also has other teaching resources for linking Science to PE including practical ideas, teachers note and curriculum links. Current units are entitled Analysing Performance and Champions of Technology, with more resources on their way later in the year. Even better, the whole site is free to use.
You can try out the reaction test tool here.
