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Edexcel IAL Biology A Level 17: Core Practical

This document describes an experiment to investigate the effects of exercise on respiratory parameters using a spirometer. The experiment measures tidal volume, breathing rate, minute ventilation, and oxygen consumption in a test subject at rest and during exercise. A spirometer is used to record breathing traces and calculate tidal volume from the traces. The subject breathes into the spirometer at rest and during 2 minutes of exercise. Recordings are taken before and after exercise to observe the effects on respiratory parameters.

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239 views

Edexcel IAL Biology A Level 17: Core Practical

This document describes an experiment to investigate the effects of exercise on respiratory parameters using a spirometer. The experiment measures tidal volume, breathing rate, minute ventilation, and oxygen consumption in a test subject at rest and during exercise. A spirometer is used to record breathing traces and calculate tidal volume from the traces. The subject breathes into the spirometer at rest and during 2 minutes of exercise. Recordings are taken before and after exercise to observe the effects on respiratory parameters.

Uploaded by

rifu91
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Edexcel IAL Biology A Level

Core Practical​ 17

Investigate the effects of exercise on tidal volume, breathing rate,


respiratory minute ventilation, and oxygen consumption using data
from spirometer traces.

www.pmt.education
Independent variable: ​Whether the test subject is resting or exercising.
Dependent variable: ​Tidal volume and breathing rate.

Equipment list
● Spirometer
● Soda lime or carbosorb - these absorb the carbon dioxide released during the experiment
● Disinfectant wipes
● Oxygen cylinder
● Human test subject
● Kymograph
● Nose clip

Method

A spirometer is a piece of equipment that can be used to ​calculate the air capacity of someone’s
lungs.​ To use it, it must first be calibrated as follows:
● Empty the spirometer so ​no air ​remains in it, align the pen to the paper so it can record
results.
● Now add a set volume of air to the spirometer, such as 1 dm³ and again let the pen mark on
the graph. From this you can use the horizontal scale to calculate how many squares on the
graph are equivalent to the volume of air just added to the spirometer.

You can now begin the main part of the experiment with the calibrated spirometer.
1. Get the test subject to sit down in front of the spirometer and get them to put a nose clip on
so they are ​only breathing through their mouth.
2. Insert the disinfected mouthpiece of the spirometer into the student’s mouth and allow them
to breathe normally until they’re are accustomed to breathing into the apparatus.
3. Set the kymograph to a rate of 1 mm per second and turn it on so it starts rotating.
4. After an exhalation, adjust the 2-way tap so the subject is now ​breathing through the
spirometer equipment​ instead of the normal atmosphere.
5. Record their normal, resting breathing for a minute and then ask them to breathe deeply for
one breath, then returning to normal breathing for another minute.
6. Now ask them to breathe out as deeply as they can, again returning to normal breathing
afterwards.
7. The effects of exercise can then be observed by ​switching the spirometer to the closed
position ​and asking the test subject to exercise for 2 minutes - such as running on the spot
or star jumps.
8. Then immediately reinsert the mouthpiece, turn the spirometer to the open position and
record the results for 1 minute.

www.pmt.education
Risk assessment

Hazard Risk Precaution

Soda lime Corrosive Make sure the soda lime is


correctly placed in the
spirometer so only the air
exhaled has contact with it

Test subject Risk of over-exertion during Only test subjects without


exercise medical conditions that may
impair their ability to breath
should be used

Mouthpiece Potentially carries pathogens Needs to be fully disinfected


between users between uses, or use 1-time
disposable ones for each
subject

Oxygen Feeds a fire so can cause Only teachers should fit the
things to burn much more gas canister in the spirometer
readily and vigorously There should be no naked
flames where the experiment
is being carried out

Graph and calculations

A graph similar to the one above will be produced.

By using the scale calculated when calibrating the spirometer the tidal volume can be calculated.
The breathing rate can be calculated by counting the number of breaths occuring in a set volume
of time e.g. in 20 seconds.

www.pmt.education
From here, the respiratory minute ventilation can be calculate for before and after exercise using
the following formula:

Respiratory minute ventilation (dm ³ per minute) = Tidal volume (dm ³ ) x Breathing rate
(breaths per minute)

www.pmt.education

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