The equation for aerobic respiration is
When we exercise we breath faster to take in more oxygen but when we don’t get enough oxygen we have to use anaerobic respiration, which is without oxygen, this is so we can get sufficient energy needed by the muscles. Using anaerobic respiration still gives us the energy we need however it also produces a waste product lactic acid. This is actually a poison and causes the muscles to ache and become tired.
The equation for anaerobic respiration is
After anaerobic respiration our bodies need to oxidise the lactic acid this is why after exercise we become flushed and out of breath because we need to get rid of the lactic acid as energy it is radiated through the skin as heat.
What we need to find out is how long does it take for the oxygen and lactic acid levels to become normal again and if it varies between levels of health between people. I think that the fittest person in the group will have the steepest sloping graph and therefore the lowest oxygen debt.
Method
To begin with we must get an average pulse rate at resting from each member of the group so we can compare it to after exercise and we can also se when the pulse rate is back to resting. If we take the pulse rate 3 and multiply the answers by 4 to get the pulse rate for the full minute and then add the answers together and divide them by three to get an average we can get a good average from that.
The next thing we need to do is work out what exercise we are going to do and for how long. It is important that we do the same exercise for the same amount of time so that it is a fair test as doing the exercise for a longer amount of time than someone else is obviously going to create more oxygen debt. We have chosen to run on the spot for 2 minutes.
After running on the spot for two minutes each member of the group must measure there pulse rate for 15 seconds and the first 15 seconds of the next minute note your pulse rate each time keep doing this until your pulse rate is back to normal. All of the pulse rates should be multiplied by 4 so it gives the pulse rate for the full minute. Draw a table of the pulse rates and then make a graph.
Results
Conclusion
The heart rate drops very quickly after exercise apart from Heather who’s heart rate drops slowly and then goes up a bit again at the end. Heather could be the unhealthiest from our group we can see this because her heart rate takes longest to drop this means she has the largest oxygen debt. The graphs show a very strange pattern in the other two, maybe the heart needs a rest and begins beating slow and then speeds up again to pay off the rest of the oxygen debt but the heart rate goes even lower than resting. Vicky and Kelly’s oxygen debt would seem to have gone within the first minute after exercise from looking at the graph but heather takes 5 minutes for her heart rate to go back to resting.
Evaluation
I tried hard at this experiment putting a lot of thought care and time into it. It was interesting how the results turned out. The experiment went well and we didn’t have many problems other than Rosie not being able to take part because she had a sprained ankle but it didn’t really make a difference. I think it is well presented and I learned how draw a table on the computer but I have still not worked out how to input a graph. My method is quite detailed to say there are only really four stages and I could have written it in four lines.
I think I have done very well.
