Experiment to show the effect of temperature and exercise on pulse rate

Introduction
Heart rate is affected by physical exercise. Muscles need more energy when physical exertion is
needed in the form of oxygen and glucose. As a part of the respiration process, they also need to
remove carbon dioxide more quickly. This experiment is to determine the effect on heart rate and
body temperature depending on how much physical exercise is done by the body.

Method
A chair was placed against a wall to ensure stability. The chair was then sat in for a short time then
the resting heart rate was counted and temperature measured. Heart rate was counted over a period
of 30 seconds and doubled.
The stopwatch was started. A motion of standing up and sitting down took place and was repeated
every 5 seconds. Heart rate was counted and temperature was measured. Both results were
recorded. Heart rate was then allowed to drop to normal resting rate by sitting back in the chair.
The experiment was repeated using intervals between standing/sitting of 4, 3, then 2 seconds and
results were recorded.

Results
Number of standups

Heart Rate (per min)

Temperature C

0 (resting)

68

37

12

88

37

15

96

37

20

112

38

30

136

39

Conclusion
The more standups I did, the more my heart rate rose and my body temperature also increased. This
demonstrates that, as the muscles works harder, they need more oxygen and glucose and also need
to get rid of carbon dioxide. Heart rate increases in order to supply muscles with more energy and,
the more energy needed by muscles, so the heart needs to pump more blood more often, increasing
the rate.

Evaluation
Temperature was taken with a standard thermometer held in the armpit. This had a degree of
inaccuracy of 1. A digital thermometer would provide measurements to 1 decimal place and
would have provided more accuracy. A heart rate monitor could also have been used instead of
counting. This would have given a more accurate figure for heart rate immediately following the
exercise because, during rest, heart rate returns to normal and a 30 second count would include a
slowing heart rate. The method used for standing and sitting was also not identical as exercise
increased so leg muscles would get more tired and standing up would be done with less strength.
This might have an effect on the results where the exercise was more intensive.