Investigating Heart Rate and Exercise
Exercise provides a simple and effective way to explore how the human body responds to changing energy demands. Measuring heart rate before, during, and after exercise helps students understand how the cardiovascular system maintains oxygen delivery and how recovery reflects fitness and efficiency.
The Experiment
Equipment:
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Stopwatch or timer
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PASCO wireless heart rate sensor or manual pulse measurement
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Graph paper or data logger
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Volunteers and space for safe physical activity
Optional a digital stethoscope
Method:
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Record the resting heart rate of the participant.
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Carry out a controlled exercise such as gentle jogging on the spot, star jumps, or step-ups for one minute.
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Measure the heart rate immediately after exercise, and again at regular intervals (every 30 seconds) until it returns to the resting rate.
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Plot a heart rate vs time graph showing the rise during exercise and the recovery curve.
The Science
During exercise, muscles need more oxygen and glucose to release energy by aerobic respiration.
The heart pumps faster to deliver oxygen and remove carbon dioxide.
After exercise stops, heart rate gradually falls — the recovery rate — which provides a useful indicator of cardiovascular fitness.
Fitter individuals show:
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Lower resting heart rates
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Faster recovery times
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Smaller increases in heart rate for the same level of exertion
This practical links biological theory to real, measurable data from the human body.
Typical Results
| Time (s) | Heart Rate (bpm) |
|---|---|
| 0 (resting) | 68 |
| 60 (after exercise) | 130 |
| 90 | 110 |
| 120 | 95 |
| 150 | 82 |
| 180 | 74 |
The heart rate peaks immediately after exercise and then steadily returns toward its baseline.
Skills Highlight
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Designing safe, fair physiological experiments
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Measuring and recording biological data accurately
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Plotting and interpreting recovery curves
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Linking physiological response to energy and respiration
Why It Works in Teaching
This experiment brings biology to life — students see the direct effect of exercise on their own physiology. It also opens discussions about fitness, health, and energy systems, turning abstract respiration theory into something personal and relevant.
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