Breathe

PDQ2

Hold Your Horses!

Overview

Grades:
Time:
Subject:

5-8
5-10 minutes
Life Science

Your respiratory system extracts oxygen from the air and expels CO2. Do you think your respiration changes when you hold your breath?

Background

Our respiratory system is one of many systems in our body. Its basic function is to take in oxygen (O2), which we need to convert our food into energy, and it expels carbon dioxide (CO2), the waste product of our energy conversion process.

As you breathe in fresh air it delivers oxygen through your trachea and bronchial tubes to smaller pathways called bronchiole that end in tiny sacs called alveoli. It is the alveoli in your lungs where the gas exchange takes place. Oxygen is extracted from the air and the respiratory system then passes the oxygen on to the circulatory system which carries it to cells that use O2 to create energy. It is also in the alveoli that CO2 is extracted from your circulatory system and when you exhale, out it goes!

What do you think happens when you hold your breath and you stop the delivery of fresh air to the alveoli?

Let’s explore further with databot™ and find out!

What You'll Need

IOS or Android smart device with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to connect to databot™
databot™ + Phypox App installed on your IOS or Android device
Plastic bag – 1 quart size, ziplock preferred!
9″ of 5mm Pneumatic tubing

Objectives

By completing this experiment and conducting the scientific observations associated with it you will master the following knowledge! Good luck science explorer!

The human respiratory system is one system of many in the human body and it is responsible for breathing!
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is:
- An invisible and odorless gas.
- Exhaled by human beings in the process of respiration.
Oxygen (O2) is:
- An invisible and odorless gas.
- One of the primary elements in the air we breathe (21%).
- Extracted from air in the alveoli, tiny sacs in your lungs.
- Used by the cells in your body to convert sugars to give you energy!
Exercise, holding your breath, and other actions affect respiration.
Scientific sensors allow us to measure the scientific world around us with better precision and accuracy.

Important Terms

Air Pressure: The weight of the air above us pressing down. We don’t feel it normally because it is always there, but air has weight!

Alveoli: Tiny air sacs in your lungs that facilitate the exchange of oxygen into your bloodstream and carbon dioxide out of it.

Bronchial Tubes: Branch off your trachea and carry the air you inhale into your lungs.

Bronchiole: Smaller passages off your bronchial tubes that lead to the tiny air sacs known as alveoli where gas exchange takes place.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2): A colorless, odorless gas naturally present in the air you breathe and is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis. There would be no animal life or green plants without carbon dioxide. Green plants use energy from the sun plus carbon dioxide and water to produce carbohydrates and oxygen.

Diaphragm: A dome shaped muscle-membrane that separates your thorax from your abdomen. It plays a major role in breathing by contracting and changing the volume in your chest cavity which allows fresh air to rush in and deliver oxygen!

Exhale: To breathe out.

Homeostasis: Your body’s systems and processes that help maintain a balance of things like your oxygen and CO2 levels.

Inhale: To breathe in.

Lungs: Spongy organs located in your chest cavity that take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide.

Oxygen (O2): A molecule formed of two oxygen atoms and is a major component (21%) of the air we breathe. When we breathe, we extract oxygen from the air and absorb it into our bloodstream. Our cells then use oxygen to convert food to energy!

Respiration: Facilitates the production of energy in the body through the process of breathing in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide.

Respiratory System: Your lungs, airway, and associated muscles, are responsible for breathing – taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide.

Trachea, or windpipe: A large tube that conveys air to and from your lungs. It is an important part of your respiratory system.

Prep (5 Mins)

This is a fun and simple activity that will involve you measuring your CO2 output using databot™ in a small plastic bag. Prepare to hold your breath so you can test your CO2 level before and after! What do you think will be the result of holding your breath?

PDQ 2 (10 mins)

Look for these important terms that identify important parts of your respiratory system on the diagram to the right. Trace their location on your own body. You are about to give your respiratory system a workout – good luck!

Alveoli
Bronchial tubes (Bronchi)
Bronchioles
Diaphragm
Lungs (Right and Left)
Trachea

Procedure

Place your charged databot™ in your ziplock bag with the drinking straw as shown.
Select the Human Respiration experiment on your Phyphox app and connect to databot™. Start the data display.
Exhale gently into the straw and fill the bag with your breath.
Write down the highest level displayed by databot™ in the “Before” space.

Now hold your breath for at least 30 seconds.
Reset your Phyphox experiment and begin a new session. Now breathe again into the bag with databot™. Write down the new value and calculate any change.
Is your CO2 level higher, lower, or the same?
Repeat the experiment twice more and record the values. Are the results similar each time?

Great Work!

Now that you’ve mastered PDQ 1 and 2, are you ready for a bigger bite? Next stop, the Experiment!

Next Step, an Experiment!

Educator Info

Prep: (30 Minutes)

Study the background information in the Overview and familiarize yourself with the learning objectives and terms for this activity.
Test the CO2 reading in your app and conduct the PDQ yourself before conducting it for your class.
Review the guiding questions to help guide the student experience.
If students have potential respiratory problems such as asthma be cognizant they may not be comfortable doing this activity.

Objectives:

Understand:

The human respiratory system is one system of many in the human body and it is responsible for breathing!
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is:
- An invisible and odorless gas.
- Exhaled by human beings in the process of respiration.
Oxygen (O2) is:
- An invisible and odorless gas.
- One of the primary elements in the air we breathe (21%).
- Extracted from air in the alveoli, tiny sacs in your lungs.
- Used by the cells in your body to convert sugars to give you energy!
Exercise, holding your breath, and other actions affect respiration.
Scientific sensors allow us to measure the scientific world around us with better precision and accuracy.

NGSS

MS-LS1-3. Use argument supported by evidence for how the body is a system of interacting subsystems composed of groups of cells. (Grades 6 – 8)

Disciplinary Core Ideas

In multicellular organisms, the body is a system of multiple interacting subsystems. These subsystems are groups of cells that work together to form tissues and organs that are specialized for particular body functions.

Cross Cutting Concepts

Systems may interact with other systems; they may have sub-systems and be a part of larger complex systems.

Guiding Questions:

The following questions may or may not be appropriate for the age group you are working with so use your discretion.