Heart Rate and Exercise
Recommended for grades 5–8.

Introduction
Heart rates increase during exercise. The heart rates of physically fit people increase less during exercise than those of less fit people. The heart rates of physically fit people recover to their resting rates more rapidly. In this experiment, you will use a Heart Rate Monitor to measure your heart rate as you stand quietly for 100 seconds, step onto and off a stool for 100 seconds, and then stand quietly for 200 seconds. You will then analyze a graph of the results to determine your standing heart rate, your maximum heart rate during the 100 seconds of exercise, and your recovery time.
Objectives
In this experiment, you will
- Use an Exercise Heart Rate Monitor to measure your heart rate.
- Determine the effect of exercise on your heart rate.
- Determine your recovery time.
- Compare your results with those of other students.
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 Middle School Science with Vernier »

