Breathing and Exercise

BREATHING AND EXERCISE

NAME key Period

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Background Information

Normal breathing rates vary from 12 to 25 times per minute. In this activity you will compare your breathing rate at rest to your breathing rate after exercise. Knowing how many times you inhale and what volume of gas is exchanged allows you to calculate the volume of respiratory exchange in one minute.

Problem

How does your breathing rate change when you exercise?

Materials

Clock or watch with a second hand

Procedure

1.  Sit quietly and breathe normally for 1 minute. You can’t talk during this time.

2.  Have your partner count the number of breaths you take in 1 minute. Record your normal breathing rate in the Data Table. Repeat two more times and find the average. This is your normal breathing rate

3.  Run in place, do jumping jacks or mountain climbers for 30 seconds. Then sit down and have your partner count the number of breaths you take in 1 minute. Record your breathing rate in the Data Table. Allow your breathing rate to return to normal before continuing on. Have your partner go now.

4.  Repeat step 3 two more times. Run in place, do jumping jacks or mountain climbers for 1 minute. Sit down and have your partner count the number of breaths you take in 1 minute. Record your breathing rate in the Data Table. Find the average.

Observations

DATA TABLE Breathing Rate (breaths per minute)

Activity trial 1 trial 2 trial 3 total average

Resting 17 21 19

After 30 seconds of exercise skip skip skip skip skip

After 1 minute of exercise 34 38 32

Analysis and Conclusions (Answer the questions using complete sentences.)

1.  How did exercise affect your breathing rate?

2.  What are the products of respiration?

3.  What is needed for respiration to occur?

4.  The body needs more energy during exercise, how does the body get this and where does the process happen in the body’s cells?

5.  Assuming that the lungs exchange 500 mL per respiration, determine your respiratory exchange by using the following formula: rate X 500 mL/inhale (show your work)

6.  Describe the path that a molecule of oxygen takes as it moves from the air outside your body into the alveoli.

7.  What other factors besides exercise might influence your normal breathing rate?