SBA #7 Date: 8/18/2023

Title: Effect of exercise on breathing rate

Aim: To investigate how breathing rate changes before and after exercise.
Apparatus/Materials: Stopwatch, volunteer, bicycle.
Method:
1. The volunteer was instructed to count the number of breaths that they inhaled in one minute.
2. The volunteer was instructed to exercise vigorously by riding a bicycle for two minutes.
Immediately after the exercise, the number of breaths that the volunteer inhales in one minute
was recorded.
3. The volunteer was instructed to rest for two minutes.
4. The volunteer was instructed to count the number of breaths inhaled in one minute.
5. Steps 1 to 4 were repeated four more times.
6. The results were plotted on a graph.
Diagram:
Observations:

Time (minutes) Breathing rate (breaths per minute)

1ST minute (rest) 23
TH
4 minute (exercise) 44
TH
7 minute (rest) 21
TH
10 minute (exercise) 45
TH
13 minute (rest) 28
TH
16 minute (exercise) 48
19TH minute (rest) 31
nd
22 minute (exercise) 50
th
25 minute (rest) 33
th
28 minute (exercise) 52
Table showing the breathing rate and pulse rate of the individual before and after exercise
Results:

Breathing Rate (Breaths per min)

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
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st st st st ise st
(re rcis (re rcis (re rcis (re ec (re rcis
e e e xe e xe e x e xe
ut ( ex ut (e ut (e ut (e ut (e
in e in e in e in te in e
tM ut M ut M ut M i nu m ut
1s in 7t
h in th in th M th in
h
M M 13 M 19 nd 25 m
4t th th th
10 16 22 28

Discussion:
The breathing rate increases because the body needs oxygen. The muscles in the body
requires oxygen to produce energy through aerobic metabolism. Oxygen is essential for the
efficient breakdown of glucose and the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary
energy currency of cells.
When the body as at rest, the body’s metabolic demands are lower compared to during
exercise because the body’s oxygen demand is reduced because there is less need for energy
production. Cellular metabolism slows down and the reliance on aerobic pathways decreases.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the breathing rate decreases during rest whereas breathing rate
increases during exercise.