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GCSE Physics · key term
A detectable change, such as a light appearing or a ruler beginning to fall, that can cause a response.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification 4.5.6.3.2 · Paper 2
A change in the surroundings that can be detected and may produce a response.
Revise: Reaction timeReaction time is the interval between a stimulus occurring and a person responding. A stimulus might be a light appearing, a sound being played or a ruler beginning to fall. The response might be pressing a button or closing the fingers to catch the ruler.
Specification 2.27, 2.30 · Paper 1
Revise: Human Reaction TimesA stimulus is a change that a person can detect. The response is the action that follows. Human reaction time is the interval between the stimulus occurring and the person beginning their response.
A detectable event or change, such as a hazard appearing, that can cause a response.
Specification P8.1d · Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 4 (Higher)
A detectable change, such as a screen changing colour or a ruler beginning to fall.
Revise: Reaction timesHuman reaction time is the interval between a stimulus occurring and the start of a response. For example, the stimulus might be a ruler being released and the response might be the fingers closing to catch it. The delay exists because the stimulus must be detected, information must be processed and a response must be produced.
State that reaction time is measured from the appearance of the stimulus to the start of the response.
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