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The document discusses measuring lung capacity by using a balloon. It provides the following steps: 1. Get a balloon and inflate it fully by exhaling all the air from your lungs. 2. Measure the diameter of the fully inflated balloon. 3. Use the formula for the volume of a sphere to calculate the volume of air in the balloon, which approximates your vital lung capacity. The document notes that lung capacity can vary between individuals due to factors like age, sex, fitness level, lung health, altitude, and pregnancy.

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116 views

Task 1

The document discusses measuring lung capacity by using a balloon. It provides the following steps: 1. Get a balloon and inflate it fully by exhaling all the air from your lungs. 2. Measure the diameter of the fully inflated balloon. 3. Use the formula for the volume of a sphere to calculate the volume of air in the balloon, which approximates your vital lung capacity. The document notes that lung capacity can vary between individuals due to factors like age, sex, fitness level, lung health, altitude, and pregnancy.

Uploaded by

pancadewis
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Volume of a sphere and lung capacity:

Investigation

The amount of air that you move in and out of your lungs while breathing normally is called tidal
volume. This amount of air provides enough oxygen for your body when you are at rest. It is possible to
force more air in, or out, of your lungs. When you force air in and then exhale until you can’t exhale any
more it is called vital capacity.

YOUR tASk: Use a balloon, and the volume of a sphere, to get an approximate volume of your
vital capacity.

Step 1: Get a balloon. Stretch it out. Inflate it, and let the air out. It needs to be easy to blow up.

Step 2: Get ready to blow up the balloon. Inhale (air in) until you feel like
you’ve forced as much air into your lungs as possible.

Step 3: Blow up the balloon. Exhale until you feel like there is no air left in
your lungs (force out every last bit!). Keep the air inside the
balloon. If you can’t tie it, at least twist it to keep it from deflating.

Step 4: Use a ruler to measure the diameter of the balloon. Get a


friend to help.

Record the diameter of your balloon. ________ cm

What is the relationship between diameter and radius?

What is the radius of your balloon? ________ cm

Step 5: Calculate the volume of air inside the balloon. Use the formula for volume of a sphere.
V = r3
Step 6: Use the graph to compare your calculated lung capacity to the volume/diameter graph
(simplified way to check capacity – possibly more accurate too! Why?)

Diameter of balloon: _______ cm

Lung capacity: ____________ cm3

Think about it: Did your classmates have similar or different lung capacities than you?
Why might this be?

A medical machine that charts lung capacity and


breathing patterns is called a spirometer.

Why lung capacity is not the same for everyone:

Many factors affect lung capacity. Age, sex, and physical fitness can affect lung capacity. Other factors
include lung health and pregnancy. Living at higher altitudes causes a need for deeper breathing.

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