Color and the Perception of Speed

Overview

Have you ever considered how we are influenced by color? The color red is used in traffic lights and stop signs. Marketing and advertising frequently use the color red, to draw our attention. Colors also affect our emotions. Bold colors may affect us differently than more soothing colors like blue, green, or earthy colors. Can colors distort our sense of time or perception? In this science project you will determine if the speed of a red paper airplane is perceived differently from that of a white paper airplane. Refer to the resources below for additional information.

Scientific Terms

speed, perception

Materials

A white paper airplane
A red paper airplane
Stop watch
Data table (provided).
White paper
Red paper
Tape measure
Two participants

Procedure

Formulate your hypothesis: If an object is of a bright color, it will appear to travel (faster/slower) than its actual speed.
Make two paper airplanes, one white and one red. Both airplanes should be folded the same way.
Designate one person to throw the airplanes and the other person to observe the airplanes. You will be the time keeper.
As the person timing the airplane, you will be standing behind the observer.
Mark a spot on the floor for where the person throwing the airplane will stand and where the observer will stand. These two spots should be of a distance of at least 15 feet.
The person throwing the airplanes should throw the air plane so that it flies past the observer. This person will first throw the white airplane.
As the time keeper, you will start the stop watch when it leaves the hand of the person doing throwing and stop it when it passes by the observer.

How color affects the perception of speed

The time should be recorded in the data sheet.
Ask the observer how long he or she thinks it took for the airplane to pass by them.
Record this on the datasheet.
Repeat these steps three times. After the three trials, change places with the observer.
Repeat this experiment so that each person has a chance to play all three roles for a total of three trials.
Record the information on the data sheet.
Now compare the estimates of the observers to the actual time of the white air plane and red air plane.
How accurate were the estimates?
Was there a difference in estimates between the red plane and white plane?
Was your hypothesis supported?

Color and Speed Data Sheet	White plane	Person #2 estimate of time	Actual time	Difference between estimated and actual time	Red plane	Person #2 estimate of time	Actual time	Difference between estimated and actual time
Person #2 (first trial)
Person #2 (second trial)
Person #2 (third trial)
Person 2 (first trial)
Person 2 (second trial)
Person 2 (third trial)
Person 3 (first trial)
Person 3 (second trial)
Person 3 (third trial)

References

"Color &Vision Matters" on the Color Matters web site. http://www.colormatters.com/color-and-vision/color-and-vision-matters

"Myth or Fact: Do Red Cars Get More Speeding Tickets?" from the ABC News web site http://www.kcautv.com/story/13077503/myth-or-fact-do-red-cars-get-more-speeding-tickets

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