The table below shows results from a field study of pulse recovery in three students after a 200 m run. Each student was 15 years old and ran on the same dr...
Question 1 Report
The table below shows results from a field study of pulse recovery in three students after a 200 m run. Each student was 15 years old and ran on the same dry track. A teacher measured pulse rate by counting beats for 30 seconds and multiplying by two. Fig. 1 shows where an artery at the wrist can be pressed gently against a bone to detect a pulse. The students had not eaten for two hours before the test and the outside temperature was 20 degrees C. Student C plays football regularly, whereas Student A does little planned exercise.
| student | pulse immediately after run / beats per minute | pulse after 5 minutes / beats per minute |
|---|---|---|
| A | 168 | 104 |
| B | 172 | 92 |
| C | 166 | 76 |
(a) Which student had the lowest pulse rate after 5 minutes? [1]
(b) Describe the relationship between regular exercise and pulse recovery suggested by Table 1. [2]
(c) Suggest two ways the teacher could improve the reliability of these results. [3]
Answer Details
(a) Student C had the lowest pulse rate after 5 minutes, at 76 beats per minute [1].
(b) The student who exercises regularly has the lowest recovery pulse [1]. This suggests a faster return towards resting pulse rate after exercise [1]. The table supports an association, but does not by itself prove that regular exercise is the only cause.
(c) Repeat each run [1], calculate a mean [1], and use more students [1]. Keeping running distance and pace identical, or using an electronic pulse monitor, would also improve reliability.
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