The Effects of Exercise on Homeostasis
Experimental Question:What mechanisms does the human body use to maintain homeostasis (stable
internal conditions) in changing external environments?
Prelab Questions (Answer with full sentences in your binder)
1. Compare the ability of single-celled organism such as prokaryotic bacteria, to multi-cellular
eukaryotes in maintaining homeostasis.
2. Give an example of how cells maintain homeostasis by exchanging materials with the blood or
intracellular fluid.
3. Give an example of how organisms maintain homeostasis during exercise.
4. Describe a system used to maintain homeostasis in a multi-cellular organism.
Hypothesis:
Materials
Clock/stopwatch
Thermometer
Thermometer Cover
Background
Exercise causes many factors of homeostasis to kick in to maintain internal equilibrium.
How exercise affects some of these factors can be determined by measuring and observing certain
conditions of the human body. Some of these conditions are:
change in skin color on arms and face
perspiration level
external body temperature
breathing rate
heart rate
Procedure
1. Working in groups of 3 or 4, select a student that will be able to do jumping jacks well and
will be able to keep jumping for 8 minutes. The group member jumping will stop just long
enough for the needed measurements and observations to be collected.
2. Record the resting observations and values of the person jumping rope using the following:
skin color of hands and face (pale, pink, red)
perspiration level (none, mild, medium, high)
external body temperature (place the thermometer under the subjects arm pit
for 1 minute; the thermometer should have a probe cover on the tip and be
placed directly against the skin)
breathing rate (count the number of breaths in 1 minute)
heart rate (find the pulse at the wrist and count the number of beats in 1 minute)
3. Make observations and measurements of the person doing jumping jacks and while they are
sitting down and resting. Record your observations on the data table.
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4. The student exercising should begin jumping when the person watching the clock gives the
signal. After 2 minutes quickly make observations and measurements and record them on the
data table.
5. The student will continue jumping at 2 minute intervals until the 8 minute time period has
been completed. After each 2 minute interval observations and measurements should be
made.
6. When the 8 minutes is up, the student jumping will rest for 1 minute. After 1 minute,
observations and measurements will be taken for the final time. Don’t forget to record the
data on the data table.
7. Make a separate graph for each of the following:
External Body Temperature at Various Intervals of Exercise
Breathing Rate at Various Intervals of Exercise
Heart Rate at Various Intervals of Exercise
8. Answer the questions in the conclusion section to describe and explain the results of the lab.
Data:
Observations and Measurements During Various Intervals of Exercise
Time Intervals Body Color
Perspiration
Level (none,
low, medium,
high,
dripping)
Body
Temperature
(degrees
Celsius)
Breathing
Rate (breaths
per minute)
Heart Rate
(beats per
minute)
Rest
2 Minutes
4 Minutes
6 Minutes
8 Minutes
Rest After
Exercise
1 Minute
Conclusion:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
What changes are your body responding to in order to maintain stable internal conditions?
How do the changes help the body adjust to maintain equilibrium (homeostasis)?
Why do you think a change in body temperature occurs?
Your body uses which mechanisms to maintain a constant body temperature?
Why does an increased breathing rate accompany exercise?
Why does an increased heart rate accompany exercise?
Compare and contrast the ways in which cells and your body maintain homeostasis. What
conditions does your body need to maintain to stay alive? What conditions do your cells
need to stay alive? How do they maintain these conditions?
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