Heart Rate and Exercise
Recommended for grades 9–12.
Introduction
The adaptability of the heart can be observed during exercise, when the metabolic activity of muscle tissue increases. The cardiovascular system, consisting of the heart and blood vessels, responds to exercise with an increase in heart rate and strength of contraction with each beat, resulting in a higher cardiac output (quantity of blood pumped through the heart per unit of time). Physically fit people can deliver a greater volume of blood in a single heartbeat than unfit individuals and can sustain a greater work level before reaching a maximum heart rate. Being more physically fit also leads to a more rapid recovery of resting heart rate.
In this experiment, you will observe how the heart responds to the increased metabolic demand of muscles during exercise.
Objectives
In this experiment, you will
- Determine the effect of exercise on heart rate.
- Correlate the fitness level of individual with amount of daily exercise.
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
See all standards correlations for Human Physiology with Vernier »
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.