Exercise Lab

Exercise & Cellular Respiration
Purpose:
The purpose of this lab activity is to analyze the effect of exercise on cellular respiration.
Background:
I. Purpose.
 To observe the effects of exercise on cellular respiration.
 To identify the role of carbon dioxide production, breathing rate, and heart rate in
determining the rate of cellular respiration.
II. Background Information.

Cellular respiration (see chemical reaction below) is a chemical reaction that occurs in
your cells to create energy; when you are exercising your muscle, cells are creating ATP to
contract. Cellular respiration requires oxygen (which is breathed in) and creates carbon
dioxide (which is breathed out).
C6H12O6 + 6 O2 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + ATP (energy)
This lab will address how exercise (increased muscle activity) affects the rate of cellular
respiration. You will measure 3 different indicators of cellular respiration: breathing rate, heart
rate, and carbon dioxide production. You will measure these indicators at rest (with no exercise)
and after exercise. Breathing rate is measured in breaths per minute, heart rate in beats per
minute, and the change in rate of oxygen measured but the O2 Vernier Sensor.
Carbon dioxide production can be measured by breathing into a balloon and attaching it
to the Vernier O2 Sensor. The reading will decrease from 13.40% Oxygen to a lower rate
because of the exposure to Carbon Dioxide.
Materials:
Stop watch
Vernier O2 Sensor
Balloons
Pre-Lab: Use your background information AND your Cellular Respiration notes to answer the
following pre-lab questions.
1. What is the equation for cellular respiration? Label which items are the reactants and
the products.
2. In what part of the cell does cellular respiration occur?
3. Write a prediction/hypothesis of how exercise will affect your body’s production of

carbon dioxide (i.e. do you think your body will produce more or less carbon dioxide as
you exercise). Make sure you EXPLAIN WHY you feel that way.
Procedure:
PART A: Resting (no exercise)
Measuring Carbon Dioxide Production:
1. Fill a balloon until 8” in diameter.
2. Place balloon onto opening of Vernier O2 Sensor
3. Monitor sensor until it comes to a stop.
4. Take the starting percentage of 13.40% and subtract it from the sensors reading, this is
the percent of CO2 produced.
5. Repeat 2 more times and take the average. Record this in Table 1.
Measuring Breathing Rate:

1. Count the number of breaths (1 breath = inhale + exhale) you take in 1 minute. Record
this in Table 2.
2. Repeat this 2 more times.
3. Average the 3 trials to get your average breathing rate. Record this in Table 2.
Measuring Heart Rate:

1. While you calculate your breathing rate, have your partner take your pulse.
2. Count the number of beats in 30 seconds and multiply that number by 2. Record this in
Table 3.
3. Repeat this 2 more times.
4. Average the 3 trials to get your average heart rate. Record this in Table 3.
PART B: Increased Muscle Activity (Exercise)

Measuring Carbon Dioxide Production:
1. Run the distance of the Science Hallway 4 times (approx. 300m) or skip rope for 1
minute.
2. While you are exercising, your partner should have the balloon and Vernier O2 Sensor
ready.
3. After completing the necessary distance, immediately exhale into the balloon until it
reaches a diameter of 8”.
4. Monitor the sensor until it stops, subtract this number from the starting percentage and
record it in your table.
5. Repeat this two more times and calculate the average.
Measuring Breathing Rate:

minute.
2. After completing, count the number of breaths (1 breath = inhale + exhale) you take for
15 seconds. (using a stopwatch your partner will let you know when to start and stop.
3. Multiply this number by 4 and record this in Table 2.
4. Repeat this 2 more times and average. Record this in Table 2.
Measuring Heart Rate:

minute.
2. With your partner, quickly calculate your heart rate as you did before.
3. Repeat twice more and calculate the average.
4. Record the values in Tables 3.
CO2 Breathing Rate Heart Rate
Before Exercise
After Exercise
Analysis & Conclusions: Answer the questions below using your BACKGROUND
information in the lab, as well as your lab data. ANSWER THE QUESTIONS IN COMPLETE
SENTENCES.
1. How did exercise affect the amount of CO2 present in the exhaled breath?
2. What can you conclude about the effect of exercise on the amount of carbon dioxide that
is present in your exhaled breath? Why is this so?
3. What can you conclude about the effect of exercise on breathing rate? Why is this so?
4. What can you conclude about the effect of exercise on heart rate? Why is this so? What
do your muscles need during exercise that the blood brings?
5. State whether your hypothesis was correct or incorrect and why. In doing so, discuss
what you think is going on in the muscles of the body as muscle activity is increased.
Address the need to get oxygen to the muscles and get rid of carbon dioxide, as well as
how the muscles cells get the energy needed to continue contracting.

Exercise Lab

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How did exercise affect the amount of CO2 present in the exhaled breath?

What can you conclude about the effect of exercise on breathing rate? Why is this so?

Exercise & Cellular Respiration

II. Background Information.

C6H12O6 + 6 O2 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + ATP (energy)

2. In what part of the cell does cellular respiration occur?

3. Write a prediction/hypothesis of how exercise will affect your body’s production of

Measuring Breathing Rate:

Measuring Heart Rate:

PART B: Increased Muscle Activity (Exercise)

Measuring Breathing Rate:

Measuring Heart Rate:

CO2 Breathing Rate Heart Rate

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