scientific experiment Essay

Submitted By dancingdaisy1101
Words: 1697
Pages: 7

Introduction
The aim of this experiment is to design and conduct an investigation into physiological changes during exercise and to explore the body's response to vigorous exercise by measuring heart rate and blood pressure during physical exertion. My hypothesis states that the physiological changes in my body (heart rate and blood pressure) during physical exercise will both increase. The reasons for carrying out this investigation is to find out what the bodily responses are whilst exerting large amounts of energy during vigorous exercise; this being supplying more amount of oxygenated blood to the larger muscles through increase of heart rate and blood pressure. Several physiological changes occur as a result of exercise. Some of these changes take place during and immediately following the activity. Other changes occur over time as a result of a long-term exercise program. Cardiac output changes resulting from exercise cause considerable changes in blood flow distribution to meet the oxygen demands of working organs and tissues. During exercise, blood is shunted away from central organs (except the heart) and toward working muscles. This is also seen as a homeostatic response of the body. Homeostasis is any process that living things use to actively maintain fairly stable conditions necessary for survival. The body does this during exercise as it puts all focus on the primary muscles that are being used only 3% of the body's blood is distributed to both the liver and kidneys while the muscles receive 71% of the body's blood flow during moderate-intensity physical activity. This is what homeostasis does for the body as it changes the circulation of normal bodily functions and changes it to its specific function needed.

Discussion

Discuss the results
The results from the resting heart rate where 89, 93 and 85 with an average of 93 bpm and gave an average blood pressure 144/98, 140/94 and 140/88 giving an average blood pressure reading of 141/93 mmhg. The average heart rate results from the light exercise where 108, 99 and 101 with an average of 102 bpm; and the light exercise results for blood pressure gave results of 135/89, 140/91 and 137/90 with an average of 137/90 mmhg. Finally for the vigorous exercise 160, 166 and 176 with the average heart rate was 167 bpm and blood pressure results being 125/88, 133/82 and 136/84 and the average was 131/84 mmhg.

Describe the Results
From this experiment, we were able to use three different types of results to observe the body's response to vigorous exercise. The results from all 3 tests of the resting heart rate, gave an average heart rate 89 bpm and and average blood pressure reading of 141/93 mmhg which is actually seen as quite a high reading for a relaxing measurement. The average blood pressure and heart rate results from the light exercise or warm up where 137/90 mmhg and 102 bpm. Finally for the vigorous exercise, the average heart rate was 167 bpm and blood pressure was 131/84 mmhg which is interesting as during exercise it usually is a lot higher than the resting but is opposite in this case.

Explain the Results (using scientific knowledge)
The highest heart rate measurement was during vigorous exercise which is expected as when physically exerting yourself in physical activity, the body's response is to increase your heart rate. This is because your muscles in your body demand for a higher amount of oxygen as they need all the aerobic energy they can get to function. So Your heart rate will increase during exercise because your exercising muscles require more oxygen and energy, and your heart has to beat faster so as to deliver it. It is also most likely that your heart rate will increase if the environmental temperature increases when you exercise.

Unexpectedly, the highest blood pressure measurement was during my resting time. This is not seen as expected during resting the blood pressure as it is usually seen to be lower than during