3.

BREATHING AND GAS EXCHANGE

(d) In a further experiment, a student, Deena, investigated the effect of exercise by using a
spirometer. This piece of equipment is able to measure the volume of air exchanged
during breathing and the rates of breathing. A trace from the spirometer is shown in the
diagram. Tidal breathing is resting breathing that mainly uses the diaphragm. The vital
capacity is the maximum volume of air that can be breathed in and out and uses the
diaphragm and intercostal muscles.

(i) Use the graph to calculate the tidal breathing rate during 0–20 seconds.

Breathing rate ………………………………. breaths per minute

(ii) Use the graph to calculate the volume of air inhaled in one breath of tidal breathing between 0 and 20s.

Volume of air inhaled in one breath of tidal breathing…………………… dm3

(iii) Calculate the total volume of air that is inhaled during 1 minute of tidal breathing.

Total volume = breathing rate (breaths per minute) × volume of one breath
Total volume of air inhaled during one minute …………………….. dm3

(iv) The volume of oxygen that diffuses into the blood during 1 minute is approximately 4% of the total inhaled air.
Calculate the volume of oxygen that diffuses into the blood during 1 minute of tidal breathing.

Total oxygen volume that diffuses into blood ……………………. dm3

(v) Repeat parts (i)–(iv) to calculate the total volume of oxygen that diffused into the blood when using the vital
capacity. Enter all the results of your calculations into the table.

(vi) Calculate the difference in volume of oxygen that diffuses into the blood when using tidal breathing compared to
using the vital capacity.

Difference in oxygen volume over 1 minute ………………………….

c) When oxygen is not available, our muscles can perform anaerobic respiration.

Name two differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration in humans.

Do not refer to oxygen in your answer.