KIDS On The Moon : Wk.2: Reflex Test

Below are the directions for an experiment which tests Reflex while in Near Zero Gravity dizziness. (*Try to have 2 "Catchers" in case a student gets too dizzy and needs to saved from falling. Also, we recommend that you have a chair very close for the test student to recover from the dizzy feeling.) Also, please make this optional so that no student need to try it if he/she doesn't want to feel a little dizzy.

PROCEDURE:

1. One student holds a ruler (12 in at top and 1 in. at bottom or centimeter equivalents ) at the top of another test student's thumb and finger.
   Without warning, the 1st student will drop the ruler between the other student's thumb and finger,
   and the 2nd student will close his/her hand to catch the ruler.

2. A 3rd recorder records the average (of 3 tries) reflex catch distance in inches or centimeters. This will be recorded under Control distance.
   The test student will be turned around in a circular fashion 15 times to simulate dizziness. Then the Reflex test will be repeated , with the average of 3 tries in a dizzy state.

3. (** BE CAREFUL! WATCH FOR SIGNS OF MOTION SICKNESS!) This will be recorded under ZeroGravity Reflex distance.
   Repeat step 1 through 3 for each student, while a recorder records the information carefully onto a spreadsheet or data chart.

4. *Teachers, please send a compiled list of #students , ControlDist., ZeroGr.Dist, ShorterDist+ , OR Grt.Dist -
   (*Send your results to dmollica@pilot.njin.net with Moon.Reflex.Test in the subject line. Send all results on or before Jan.25,1996!
   
   (Results will be posted on or before Mon.,February 1, 1996) When all students have completed the tests, gather the information and send us the summary results according to this sample:

Number of Students:  Reflex Improvement: (in./cm) + or - 



    13 :                             -3

     2 :                             +1

     4 :                             -2

    14 :                             +2


     The above means 13 students did worse by 3 inches,
and 14 improved by 2 inches (or centimenters)

** 6) What percent of the group increased their reflex efficiency (i.e. caught the ruler in a shorter distance while in dizzy state)?

** 7) What percent of the group decreased their reflex efficiency (i.e. caught the ruler in a longer distance while in dizzy state)?

Thanks for trying this experiment! We hope you had fun and learned a great deal!

** Please remember to mail in your results to Sister Dianne Mollica