Final answer:
The most efficient time for Carl to mow the lawn, according to the Yerkes-Dodson law, would be after an activity that puts him at a moderate level of arousal, making after an afternoon nap the best option.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Yerkes-Dodson law, the most efficient time for Carl to mow the lawn would be when his arousal levels are appropriate for the task at hand, which in this case, is generally considered to be a simple task. The law suggests that simple tasks are performed best when arousal levels are relatively high. Therefore:
- After he finishes his daily meditation (Option A), Carl may be too relaxed or under-for optimal performance on a simple task such as mowing the lawn.
- After he gets home from work (Option B), if Carl has a stressful job or is fatigued, he might need to first create a buffer between work and home to achieve a moderately high level of arousal that is beneficial for the task.
- After he learns he won the lottery (Option C), Carl's arousal level might be too high due to excitement, which can interfere with performance on simple tasks.
- After an afternoon nap (Option D), Carl is likely to have a moderate level of arousal which is more conducive to effectively performing simple tasks such as lawn mowing.
Considering these options, after a brief period of rest like an afternoon nap, which helps in gaining energy and feeling refreshed, Carl should be in the optimal state of arousal according to the Yerkes-Dodson law to mow the lawn efficiently.