1. Teacher Information: Breathing Easy Experiment &endash; Part 1

SAMPLE RESULTS

Table 1

Holding of Breath

Before holding breath	After holding breath
11 breaths/ minute	19 breaths / minute

Table 2

Rebreathing of Air: Amplitudes of Respiration Waves

0 to 30 seconds	120 to 150 seconds	240 to 270 seconds
5.1 kPa	6.6 kPa	8.4 kPa

 

Rebreathing of air from a bag

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

1. Respiratory rates should increase following a person holding their breath.

2. The vertical size or amplitude of the respiratory wave will initially be greater than normal, and then return to normal after several breaths.

3. The significance of an increase in the amplitude of the waveform is that a greater volume of air is breathed during a respiratory cycle. The significance of an increase in the frequency of the waveform is that the respiratory rate has increased.

4. In most cases, the wave amplitude will increase in an attempt to compensate for the heightened carbon dioxide concentration in the blood and the lungs. An increase in wave amplitude is relative to an increase the volume of air inhaled with each respiratory cycle.

5. Based on the results of the experiment, carbon dioxide increases the volume of air inhaled during respiration in humans.