How Close Before You React? The Advancing Noodle

A group experiment that measures how far away you need to be to get out of the way of a hand (a pool noodle) coming at you without warning. The data show why keeping distance is the first self-protection tool.

How to play

1. Hypothesis: each student writes how far away they think they could avoid a grab or push (3 min).
2. Setup in groups of five: chalk lines every 25 cm from 0.5 m to 2.5 m; one student holds the noodle horizontally at chest height and thrusts it forward with one step (4 min).
3. Data collection: the subject, in an open-hand guard, must step back before the noodle touches them; five tries from each distance with random timing; a recorder logs the successes (9 min).
4. Distracted condition: repeat at the critical distance while the subject reads a card or recites the 7 times table (4 min).
5. Conclusions: each group works out the minimum safe distance with and without distraction and compares it to their hypothesis (5 min).

Rules

• The noodle moves straight at chest height, never toward the face.
• The subject steps back onto clear ground with nothing behind.
• The pusher takes only one step and doesn't chase.
• Class summary data are anonymous.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: instead of stepping back, the subject raises hands to guard or turns the chair; measure whether they cover in time.
• Visual impairment: use a sound cue (the pusher claps) and measure the step-back reaction.
• Anxiety: start as recorder or pusher and decide whether to be the subject.

Learning goals

• Measure reaction time as a function of distance.
• See how distraction affects personal safety.
• Use data to justify distance as a preventive strategy.

Equipment for a class of 25

• pool noodles: 10
• tape measures: 5
• chalk: 5
• recording sheets: 10

Teacher tip

Five sewing tape measures or one long construction tape work; if you have none, mark lines with pre-measured steps. The usual mistake is the pusher giving away the timing; ask them to wait a different time on every try.

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