Exercise vs. Heart Rate
Problem: How will exercise affect the test subject’s heart rate?
Background Information: After the test subject performed a specific exercise multiple times with different timed intervals, the heart rate was recorded to see if there was a change depending on the exertion spent while performing ‘firefeet’. When the test subject is performing ‘firefeet’, the arms should be tucked in close to the side of the body and the feet should be running as fast and hard as possible in place. The number of seconds the test subject is performing the exercise is the independent variable. The heart rate which is measured in beats per minute is the dependent variable. When recording the heart rate, the test subject kept track of their pulse for ten seconds; that number was multiplied by six to calculate the heart rate for 1 minute. This lab will determine how exercise will affect the test subject’s heart rate.
Hypothesis: As more seconds are added to the amount of time the test subject needs to perform the exercise, the heart rate will speed up.
Materials:
- Stopwatch
- (3) able bodied test subjects
- Flat and spacious testing area
Procedures:
1. Have all test subjects at a standstill, breathing regularly
2. For ten seconds, each subject will measure his/her ‘resting’ heart rate
3. That number will be multiplied by 6
4. Record heart rate
5. Each test subject will perform ‘firefeet’ for 20 seconds
6. Directly after finishing the exercise, the subjects will measure their heart rate for ten seconds
7. Multiply each test subject’s heart rate by six and record
8. Allow each test subject to return to resting heart rate
9. Each test subject will now perform ‘firefeet’ for 30 seconds
10. Repeat steps 6, 7, & 8
11. Each test subject will now perform ‘firefeet’ for 40 seconds
12. Repeat steps 6, 7, & 8
13. Start the second trial
14. Repeat steps 1-12
15. After all the data has been collected, average the resting heart rate, the 20 seconds, 30 seconds, and 40 seconds. Record.
Observations:
Qualitative: Out of the three test subjects, two were female and the remaining one, male. When the test subjects were doing ‘firefeet’ for twenty seconds, it did not seem to be that much of a challenge. When the time was increased to thirty seconds, the test subjects noted that they could feel the burn in their legs! When they finished, they were a bit out of breath and dreaded the forty second session. Reluctantly they performed ‘firefeet’ for forty seconds. When they finished, they said they were tired and their legs felt like jelly. The test subjects said that the ‘firefeet’ exercise was a good choice because it definitely had their hearts beating!
Quantitative Observations: *Note - Each number taken as the test subject’s heart rate was multiplied by 6 to calculate their heart rate for 1 minute. Test Subject #1 Trial 1 Trial 2
20 sec. 144 beats/minute 180 beats/minute
30 sec. 156 beats/minute 180 beats/minute 40 sec. 144 beats/minute 180 beats/minute Test Subject #2 Trial 1 Trial 2
20 sec. 120 beats/minute 126 beats/minute
30 sec. 132 beats/minute 126 beats/minute
40 sec. 132 beats/minute 132 beats/minute Test Subject #3 Trial 1 Trial 2
20 sec. 144 beats/minute 180 beats/minute
30 sec. 156 beats/minute 150 beats/minute
40 sec. 144 beats/minute 162 beats/minute

Average # of