Q1.
Estimate whether you would take seconds or minutes to complete the following activities. Tick the appropriate cell. (Blinking of eyes; Switching on and switching off the lights; Counting from 1–20; Filling a glass from the tap; Melting of an ice-cube; Making a phone call; Sitting down on the floor; Drinking a glass of water; Snapping fingers; Washing hands)
Answer
Here is the table with a tick in the sensible cell for each activity, and a rough time so you can see why.
| Activity | Seconds | Minutes | About how long |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blinking of eyes | ✓ | less than 1 second | |
| Switching on and switching off the lights | ✓ | about 2 seconds | |
| Counting from 1–20 | ✓ | about 15 seconds | |
| Filling a glass from the tap | ✓ | about 10 seconds | |
| Melting of an ice-cube | ✓ | 15 minutes or more | |
| Making a phone call | ✓ | a few minutes | |
| Sitting down on the floor | ✓ | about 3 seconds | |
| Drinking a glass of water | ✓ | about 10 seconds | |
| Snapping fingers | ✓ | less than 1 second | |
| Washing hands | ✓ | about 20–30 seconds |
How to decide, for any activity:
- Picture yourself doing it once. Do it slowly in your mind.
- Ask: could I count it out while holding my breath? If yes, it is a job for seconds.
- Ask: would I get bored waiting? If yes, it is a job for minutes.
- Then check with a clock that has a seconds hand, or with a stopwatch.
Why only two answers are ‘minutes’: Melting an ice cube and making a phone call are the only two things on the list you cannot finish in one breath. Everything else on the list is over before the seconds hand has gone even half way round.
Check it yourself: Ask a friend to watch the seconds hand while you wash your hands properly with soap. Most people take 20 to 30 seconds. If you take longer than 60 seconds, then for you it becomes a minutes job — measuring is allowed to give different answers for different people.