Name Period Date

Exercise and Respiration Rate

Driving Questions
How does the rate of breathing compare before, during, and after exercise.

Background
In humans, oxygen cannot be stored in sufficient quantities for more than a few minutes. At rest, the blood
holds about a quart of dissolved oxygen, but it is continually being used by the cells to produce energy. The
lungs constantly need to be working to furnish a sufficient supply for various activities. In turn, cells produce
carbon dioxide as a metabolic waste product. If carbon dioxide builds up in the bloodstream, blood pH can
decrease rapidly and be fatal.

Human respiration rate is controlled by a part of the brain called the medulla oblongata. It sends signals to the
body to adjust breathing to provide enough oxygen for every activity, including sleeping, eating, and exercising.
The brain measures the level of carbon dioxide (not the level of oxygen) in the blood, and it adjusts the
respiration rate as needed. During exercise, the cells burn oxygen faster to produce more energy for the body,
which creates more carbon dioxide as a waste product. This increased carbon dioxide level is detected by the
brain, which signals for a higher respiration rate to provide more oxygen for the cells.

Average human rates of breathing, by age

Average Number of Average Number of

Breaths per Minute Breaths per Minute

Newborns 44 Older children 16 to 25

Infants 20 to 40 Adult, at rest 12 to 20

Preschool children 20 to 30 Adults, during exercise 35 to 45

Materials and Equipment

For each student or group:

 Data collection system
 Breath rate sensor

Safety
Add these important safety precautions to your normal laboratory procedures:

 This activity requires the person whose respiration rate is being measured to exercise (jog in place for one
minute). Do NOT perform this activity if vigorous exercise will cause discomfort or difficulty in breathing.

Sequencing Challenge

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Exercise and Respiration Rate

The steps below are part of the Procedure for this lab activity. They are not in the right order. Determine
the proper order and write numbers in the circles that put the steps in the correct sequence.

Gather all Record breath Attach the breath Record resting Record breath
equipment and rate after rate sensor to the breath rate for rate during one
set up your data exercise. test subject. one minute. minute of
collection system. exercise.

Procedure
After you complete a step (or answer a question), place a check mark in the box () next to that step.

Note: When you see the symbol "�" with a superscripted number following a step, refer to the numbered Tech
Tips listed in the Tech Tips appendix that corresponds to your PASCO data collection system. There you will find
detailed technical instructions for performing that step. Your teacher will provide you with a copy of the
instructions for these operations.

Set Up

1.  Start a new experiment on the data collection system. �(1.2)

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 Student Inquiry Worksheet

2.  Set up the mask, blue clip, and the black and clear leads according to the instructions that came with
the breath rate sensor.

3.  Connect the breath rate sensor to your data collection system. �(2.1)

4.  Display Respiration Rate in breaths per minute on the y-axis versus Time in seconds (s) on the x-axis
of a graph. �(7.1.1)

5.  Place the mask on the face of the person who will be monitored.

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Exercise and Respiration Rate

6.  What do you predict will happen to the rate of breathing before, during, and after exercise?

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Collect Data

Note: Once started, record data continuously through 1 minute at rest, 1 minute of exercise, and 1 minute of
recovery.

7.  Remind the person who is being monitored to relax, breathe normally, and not to look at the data as it
is recorded.

8.  Start recording data. �(6.2)

9.  Adjust the scale of the graph to show all data. �(7.1.2)

10.  After 1 minute at rest, the person being monitored jogs in place.

11.  Remind the person being monitored to inhale and exhale in smooth, even breaths.

Note: Erratic breathing or hyperventilation adversely affects the results.

12.  After 1 minute, the person being monitored sits or stands very still.

13.  Remind the person being monitored to relax, breathe normally, and not to look at the data as it is
recorded.

14.  Stop recording data after breathing returns to normal. �(6.2)

15.  Save your experiment �(11.1) and clean up according to your teacher's instructions.

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 Student Inquiry Worksheet

Data Analysis

1.  Make a sketch of your data for Breath Rate versus Time. Label the overall graph, the x-axis, the y-axis,
and include units on the axes.

2.  Using the available tools on your data collection system, �(9.1) �(9.4) fill in Table 1.

Table 1: Rate of breathing at rest, during, and after exercise

Minimum Maximum Average Breath

Breath Rate Breath Rate Rate

At rest

During exercise

After exercise

Analysis Questions

1. How does the respiration rate immediately after exercise compare with the respiration rate at rest
before exercise?

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

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Exercise and Respiration Rate

2. How long did it take after exercise for breath rate to return to normal?

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

3. When was the maximum breath rate reached for the person being monitored?

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Synthesis Questions
Use available resources to help you answer the following questions.

1. Why did the rate of respiration increase during exercise?

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What other physiologic responses change during exercise?

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Multiple Choice Questions

Select the best answer or completion to each of the questions or incomplete statements below.

1. What is the name of the main muscle that helps regulate breathing?

A. Pharynx
B. Diaphragm
C. Alveoli
D. Bronchioles

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 Student Inquiry Worksheet

2. Where does oxygen exchange happen?

A. Pharynx
B. Trachea
C. Bronchi
D. Alveoli

3. What part of the brain regulates involuntary breathing?

A. Thymus
B. Hypothalamus
C. Medulla oblongata
D. Cerebrum

Key Term Challenge

Fill in the blanks from the list of randomly ordered words in the Key Term Challenge Word Bank.

1. Every cell in your body needs oxygen. When you breathe air in, it contains oxygen. ____________ is
essential in the process of cellular respiration. ____________ is a waste product, generated by your cells during
____________. If carbon dioxide is not removed from your bloodstream, the pH of your blood will drop and
cause a condition called ____________. This can be fatal. Blood flows to the ____________ in the lungs, where
oxygen ____________ the bloodstream and carbon dioxide____________ the bloodstream. Carbon dioxide is
exhaled from the lungs.

2. During exercise, more ____________ is required by the cells in your body. Your cells are also producing
____________ at a faster rate. A part of the brain called the medulla oblongata recognizes the need for
heightened gas exchange and ____________ your breath rate. In addition, your heart rate increases in an effort
to move the oxygen-____________ blood to the cells faster.

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Exercise and Respiration Rate

Key Term Challenge Word Bank

Paragraph 1 Paragraph 2
acidosis carbon dioxide
alveoli decreases
carbon dioxide increases
cellular respiration oxygen
enters poor
exits rich
larynx water
oxygen
pharynx
veins
ventricles
hydrogen
photosynthesis

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