Chapter 2: Eating, Drinking and Breathing

Worksheet 1.2.14 Measuring breathing

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1 How do we measure breathing? >

By drawing lines, match up each of the breathing measurements with its description.
1. Lung volume A Rate at which air is breathed
out

2. Breathing rate B Volume of gas that can be

breathed out after a big breath in

3. Peak flow C Number of breaths per minute

2 Factors that affect breathing measurements >>

a) Physical exercise can cause an increase in lung volume.
i) Suggest how this may happen.
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ii) Explain how this can help an athlete to improve their performance.
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b) Some lung diseases affect the breathing rate.

i) Suggest what the effect on the breathing rate may be.
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ii) Suggest how a person with reduced breathing rate may feel.
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Key Stage 3 Science Teacher Pack 1 © HarperCollinsPublishers Limited 2014

 Chapter 2: Eating, Drinking and Breathing

Worksheet 1.2.14 Measuring breathing

page 2/2

3 Analysing data >>>

Look at the breathing data for two adult males.

Patient 1 Patient 2
Lung volume 5.8 litres 4.8 litres
Breathing rate 12 breaths/min 20 breaths/min
Peak flow rate 640 litres/min 480 litres/min

a) The males are similar in height and weight. Suggest why this is important when comparing the
breathing values.
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b) Suggest which of the patients has asthma. Describe the evidence for your conclusion.
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c) Suggest which patient is the physically fitter. Describe the evidence for your conclusion.
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d) Calculate the difference in the peak flow rate of the two patients.
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Key Stage 3 Science Teacher Pack 1 © HarperCollinsPublishers Limited 2014