comparing physical fitness between male and female-planning the investigation

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Aim

To plan a scientific investigation based on a study of how gender affects physical fitness.

Introduction

In this part of the assignment, I will be planning an investigation of how gender affects physical fitness. To do this, I will firstly collect some background information regarding the various techniques going to be used to test this, this will then help me create some predictions; I will then acquire the methods for the various ways to test the effects on fitness. To ensure the methods selected are correct, trials will be carried out. The methods chosen are:

  • The Harvard step test- for aerobic fitness testing
  • The sit and reach- to test the flexibility
  • Sit ups and push ups- to test muscular endurance
  • Carbon dioxide levels will be tested during aerobic exercise

Four females and four males will be chosen randomly to carry out these tests.          Finally a timetable will be produced to confirm when the tasks should be performed. Although a grip dynamometer is useful to test strength and leg and arm speed will also be useful to test for speed, there can be dangerous effects on the subject’s body as they may or may not be regularly active.

Background Information

Aerobic respiration

This is the process in which oxygen is used to make energy (ATP).

C6H12O6 + 6O   --->  6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy

                  Glucose + Oxygen   --->  Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy

Aerobic respiration is divided into two processes:

  1. The Krebs Cycle
  2. The electron transport chain

The Krebs Cycle

In order for the Krebs cycle to occur, Glycolysis must happen first, as it produces pyruvate molecules.

        Glycolysis

This process breaks down glucose into two pyruvate molecules; this is the ionised form of pyruvic acid.

The pyruvate molecules produced in this process contain a great amount of energy in the bonds between their molecules. In order to use this energy, it must be converted into ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate). This is done by processing the pyruvate molecules through the Krebs cycle.

1. The pyruvate molecules are converted to acetyl CoA. This is done by removing one CO2 molecule from the pyruvate molecule and then removing an electron to reduce an NAD+ into NADH. The enzyme coenzyme A is combined with the remaining acetyl to make acetyl CoA.

2. Oxaloacetate from the previous Krebs cycle combines with acetyl CoA to form citrate.

3. The citrate is then converted into its isomer, isocitrate.

4. Isocitrate is then oxidized to form the 5-carbon α-ketoglutarate. During this step, one molecule of CO2 is released which reduces NAD+ to NADH2+.

5. The α-ketoglutarate is oxidized to succinyl CoA.

6. Succinyl CoA releases coenzyme A and adds a phosphate group to ADP to form ATP.

7. Succinate is oxidized to fumarate, this converts FAD to FADH2.

8. Malate is formed by the hydrolysis of fumarate.

9. Malate is then oxidized to oxaloacetate, which reduces NAD+ to NADH2+.

The process is then repeated. For each molecule of glucose, six NADH2+, two FADH2, and two ATP.

        The Electron Transport Chain

This process occurs in the organelle mitochondrion, as shown below:

  1. Protons are moved across the membrane, from the matrix to the intermembrane space
  2. Electrons are transported along the membrane, through a series of protein carriers
  3. Oxygen is the terminal electron acceptor, combining with electrons and H+ ions to produce water
  4. As NADH delivers more H+ and electrons into the electron transport system, the proton gradient increases, with H+ building up outside the inner mitochondrial membrane, and OH- inside the membrane.

Males usually have a larger lung capacity than females; therefore they inhale a greater amount of oxygen than of females. As they have more oxygen, they are able to produce more energy.

Anaerobic respiration

This is the process in which energy is produced without the presence of oxygen.

C6H12O6  2C3H4O3 + 2H2 + energy (ATP)

Glucose  Lactic acid + energy 

Glucose obtained through food and drink is broken down by Glycolysis. This results in the production of lactic acid, pyruvic acid or ethyl alcohol. Sugar and oxygen react together forming two smaller three-carbon molecules and hydrogen, with the release of chemical energy (ATP).

ATP  ADP + P + Energy

Anaerobic threshold is the point during high intense exercise when the body can no longer meet its demand for oxygen. As males usually produce more energy, they have a larger amount of energy stored than of females; therefore they are able to perform longer than females.

The Harvard step test

The following table presents the normative results from the Harvard step test for both male and female aged between 16 and 19.

The reason why the normative data for males are higher than of females is due to males normally having a higher lung capacity. Lung volume usually depends on a person’s age, sex and height; it is usually largest at around 20-25 years.

The normative data of lung capacity is shown in the table below:

Sit and reach

The following table shows the normative data of the sit and reach test for male and female

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Females’ flexibility is normally higher than of males this is due to females usually having a lower muscle mass than of males. This is because males have testosterone which allows them to produce muscle at a high level.

Sit ups

The table below shows the normative data of sit ups for male and female, aged 16-19.

The reason why males are able to do more sit ups than females is because male have a higher muscular endurance.

Push ups

The following table shows the normative data of push ...

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