Item EB027002: Scientists compared the amount of energy needed for different activities by comparing the amount of oxygen consumed for the activities, because oxygen is a reactant in a chemical reaction that supplies energy for motion.
A group of scientists was interested in finding out how the amount of energy needed to do yoga exercises compared to other forms of exercise. During a typical yoga session, a person moves through a series of poses like the ones shown below.
The scientist recruited 20 people to participate in the study. They first had each person rest for 30 minutes by sitting still in a chair. Then each person moved through a series of standing and sitting yoga poses for 56 minutes. Finally, each person walked on a treadmill at two different speeds (2 miles per hour and 3 miles per hour) for 10 minutes at each speed.
During each part of the study, the scientists determined how much oxygen each person used by calculating the difference between the amount of oxygen inhaled and the amount of oxygen exhaled. The table below presents the average amount of oxygen used during each activity.
Activity | Amount of Oxygen Used (l/kg/min) |
Resting | 0.3 |
Yoga | 0.6 |
Walking at 2 miles per hour | 0.7 |
Walking at 3 miles per hour | 0.9 |
Why did the scientist use the amount of oxygen used to compare the different activities?
- Because the amount of oxygen used is related to the amount of energy needed. Oxygen is used to convert food molecules into the energy needed for a person to move.
- Because the amount of oxygen used is related to the amount of energy needed. Oxygen is a reactant in a chemical reaction that supplies the energy needed for a person to move.
- Because the amount of oxygen used is related to the amount of energy needed. Oxygen is formed during a chemical reaction that supplies the energy need for a person to move.
- Because the amount of oxygen used is a measure of how fit a person is. Oxygen is not involved in a reaction that supplies the energy needed for a person to move.
- Distribution of Responses
- Points Earned
Group | Correct | Total | Percent |
---|---|---|---|
Overall | 64 | 180 | 36% |
Grades | |||
6–8 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
9–12 | 56 | 156 | 36% |
Gender | |||
Male | 30 | 98 | 31% |
Female | 27 | 60 | 45% |
Primary Language | |||
English | 55 | 150 | 37% |
Other | 5 | 13 | 38% |
- Distribution of Responses
- Points Earned
Group | Correct | Total | Percent |
---|---|---|---|
Overall | 80 | 178 | 45% |
Grades | |||
6–8 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
9–12 | 69 | 157 | 44% |
Gender | |||
Male | 39 | 90 | 43% |
Female | 31 | 67 | 46% |
Primary Language | |||
English | 64 | 149 | 43% |
Other | 5 | 7 | 71% |
- Disciplinary Core Ideas
- PS3.D Cellular respiration in plants and animals involve chemical reactions with oxygen that release stored energy. In these processes, complex molecules containing carbon react with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and other materials.
LS1.C As a result of these chemical reactions, energy is transferred from one system of interacting molecules to another. Cellular respiration is a chemical process in which the bonds of food molecules and oxygen molecules are broken and new compounds are formed that can transport energy to muscles. Cellular respiration also releases the energy needed to maintain body temperature despite ongoing energy transfer to the surrounding environment.