Student activity AB2.20.1
Lesson reference: B2.20 Aerobic respiration
Book links: Page 134
Specification links: B2.6.1 a–i
Aerobic respiration
Equipment required per student/group:
Finger pulse monitor (optional)
Datalogger (optional)
Stop watch
Health and Safety notes:
 Do no more exercise than you would in PE.
Getting started
Investigating the effect of exercise on pulse rate
You are going to find out what happens to your pulse rate, and therefore your
heart rate, during exercise. You will then measure the time taken for your pulse
rate to return to normal after a period of exercise. This is called the recovery time.
A In this investigation:
i What is the independent variable?
ii What is the dependent variable?
Investigating
If you are using a datalogger and finger pulse monitor:
1 Collect your apparatus.
2 Make sure that you know how to use the datalogger and finger pulse monitor,
and check that they are connected and working properly.
3 Make sure you are seated comfortably and are relaxed. Measure your resting
pulse rate three times. Calculate your mean resting pulse rate.
4 Run on the spot vigorously for two minutes. Now stop running but keep
monitoring your pulse rate until it returns to your normal resting rate.
5 Print out your graph trace and calculate your recovery time.
6 Compare your results with those of others in your class.
If you are not using a datalogger:
1 Practice the technique for manually measuring your pulse.
2 Make sure you are seated comfortably and are relaxed. Measure your resting
pulse rate three times. Calculate your mean resting pulse rate.
3 Run on the spot for two minutes. Immediately measure your pulse rate and
keep taking it every minute until it has returned to your resting rate.
4 Plot a graph of pulse rate against time. Calculate your recovery time.
5 Compare your results with those of others in your class.
Practical activities have been checked for health and safety advice by CLEAPSS.
All users will need to review the risk assessment information and may need to adapt it to local circumstances.
© Oxford University Press 2011
This document may have been altered from the original.
456
Asking questions
A What is the average resting pulse rate for your class?
B What was the highest pulse rate recorded during exercise
i for you?
ii in your class?
C Explain why your pulse rate increases as you run.
D Explain why your pulse rate stays high for several minutes after you have
stopped running.
E You may have noticed that your breathing rate also increased during and after
the exercise. Explain why this happened.
Practical activities have been checked for health and safety advice by CLEAPSS.
All users will need to review the risk assessment information and may need to adapt it to local circumstances.
© Oxford University Press 2011
This document may have been altered from the original.
457