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Carbon dioxide is produced during aerobic exercise - Edexcel - GCSE Physical Education - Question 4 - 2021 - Paper 1
Question 4
Carbon dioxide is produced during aerobic exercise. (a) Explain the importance of breathing out an increased amount of carbon dioxide during a long-distance race. ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Carbon dioxide is produced during aerobic exercise - Edexcel - GCSE Physical Education - Question 4 - 2021 - Paper 1
Step 1
Explain the importance of breathing out an increased amount of carbon dioxide during a long-distance race.
Answer
Breathing out an increased amount of carbon dioxide during a long-distance race is vital because carbon dioxide is a waste product of respiration. When muscles perform aerobic exercise, they produce additional carbon dioxide. It is essential to exhale this excess carbon dioxide to prevent accumulation in the bloodstream, which can lead to fatigue. Effectively removing carbon dioxide helps maintain proper blood pH levels and allows athletes to continue performing at optimal levels.
Step 2
Step 3
Explain why an elite 100 m sprinter may only breathe twice during a race.
Answer
An elite 100 m sprinter may only breathe twice during a race because the sprint is an anaerobic activity. The race duration is too short to rely on aerobic metabolism for energy production, which limits the need for additional oxygen intake. Additionally, the explosive and high-intensity nature of the sprint utilizes fast-twitch muscle fibers, which can generate energy without needing oxygen. Therefore, the sprinter primarily depends on anaerobic pathways to fuel the sprint.