Control of Human Respiration
Recommended for grades 6–12.
Introduction
Your respiratory system allows you to obtain oxygen, eliminate carbon dioxide, and regulate the blood’s pH level. The process of taking in air is known as inspiration, while the process of blowing out air is called expiration. A respiratory cycle consists of one inspiration and one expiration. The rate at which your body performs a respiratory cycle is dependent upon the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood.
You will monitor the respiratory patterns of one member of your group under different conditions. A respiration belt will be strapped around the test subject and connected to a computer-interfaced Gas Pressure Sensor. Each respiratory cycle will be recorded by the computer, allowing you to calculate a respiratory rate for comparison at different conditions.
Objectives
In this experiment, you will
- Monitor the respiratory rate of an individual.
- Evaluate the effect of holding of breath on the respiratory cycle.
- Evaluate the effect of rebreathing of air on the respiratory cycle.
Sensors and Equipment
This experiment requires each of the following Vernier sensors and equipment (unless otherwise noted):
Additional Requirements
You may also need an interface and software for data collection. What do I need for data collection?
Download Experiment Preview
The student-version preview includes:
- Step-by-step instructions for computer-based data collection
- List of materials and equipment
Note: The experiment preview of the computer edition does not include essential teacher information, safety tips, or sample data. Instructions for Logger Pro and other software (such as LabQuest App or TI handheld software, where available) are on the CD that accompanies the book. We strongly recommend that you purchase the book before performing experiments.
Standards Correlations
Included in the Lab Book
Vernier lab books include a CD with word-processing files of the student instructions, essential teacher information, suggested answers, sample data and graphs, and more.