Breathe Respiratory System

• databot

• IOS/Android Smart Device

• Plastic bag – 1 quart size,
  ziplock preferred!

• Drinking straw

Breathe: Exploring the Human
Respiratory System

Oxygen is necessary for cells to release energy from
food through a process called cellular respiration.
During this process, carbon dioxide is produced as
a waste gas.

Air travels through:

• Nose or mouth

• Trachea

• Bronchial tubes

• Bronchioles

• Alveoli

In the alveoli, oxygen moves into the bloodstream
and carbon dioxide moves out.

When you exercise:

• Muscles need more energy

• Cells use more oxygen

• Cells produce more carbon dioxide

Your body responds by increasing breathing rate and
depth. This automatic adjustment helps maintain
homeostasis — a stable internal balance of gases in
the body.

Overview

Background

What You Will Need/Prep

• Test your databot™ connection.

• You will be prompted to select
  and connect to databot™ each
  time you launch an experiment.

• If there are two or more
  databot™'s listed, the one
  closest to your device will be
  highlighted.

You breathe about 20,000 times every day —
without even thinking about it. But what actually
changes when you exercise? What happens inside
your body when you hold your breath? Today, you
won’t just talk about breathing — you will see real
data from your own body using databot.

• Install Vizeey™ on your
  Smart device.

• Study the background
  information and terms and
  prepare to explore!

Grades: Middle School

Time: 45 Minutes

Subject: Life Science

Topics: Respiratory System, O2, CO2,

Homeostasis, Effects of exercise on
breathing

• Scan the QR code to load
  the experiment.

Learning Objectives

In this investigation you will master the following knowledge and skills:

• Visualize, collect and analyze data

• Measure and record CO₂ levels in ppm.

• Understand that the human respiratory system is one system of many in the human
  body, and it is responsible for breathing!

• Compare CO₂ levels at rest and after exercise

• Explain why CO₂ levels change

• Connect breathing changes to cellular energy needs

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.
A waste gas produced during cellular respiration, which is absorbed by plants in
photosynthesis.

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

Parts per million - (ppm): Usually describes the concentration of something in air, water or
soil. The term ppm expresses the number of units (part) of a given substance that exists as
a portion of a greater substance comprised of one million parts.

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.

In this lab, you will measure the carbon dioxide (CO₂) in your
breath using databot™. You will discover how your body responds
to exercise and how your respiratory system works to keep you
alive and balanced.

In order to work with the experiment you need to launch Vizeey application and click on + in
the upper right corner.

Then select “Add experiment from QR code” and scan the QR code prepared for this
experiment. Your experiment will appear in the list.

• Alveoli

• Bronchial tubes (Bronchi)

• Bronchioles

• Lungs (Right and Left)

• Trachea

When you start the experiment you will be immediately offered to connect to your databot.
Make sure that databot is enabled.

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!

Part 2: Hypothesis

Part 3: Experiment Procedure

Before starting the experiment:

• Prepare databot, plastic bag, and a straw.

• Make sure your databot is fully charged.

Prepare to hop around a bit so you can test your CO2 level before and after exercise!

• Turn on your charged databot™
  (using the small button on the left side) and place it in your ziplock bag.

• Zip the bag closed except for a small space for a straw.

• Open the Vizeey™ app on your smart device and click on the Breathe experiment

  • To start and to pause the experiment use:

Activity 1: CO₂ at Rest vs. Exercise

• Measure CO₂ at Rest

  • Start your experiment with button

  • Exhale gently into the bag through the straw, the bag will inflate and air will leak out
    around the straw which is fine.

  • Write down the highest level displayed by databot™ in the “Before” space into the
    table below.

• Exercise

  • Now exercise for two full minutes doing jumping jacks, running in place, hopping,
    etc. to get your heart rate up. Work as hard as you can and think about your
    breathing. Stop after two minutes.

  • Clear your data using and start fresh measurements. Now breathe again into
    the bag with databot.

  • Write down the new value and calculate any change.

• Repeat for 3 trials.

Part 3: Experiment Procedure

Activity 2: Holding Your Breath

• Measure CO₂ at Rest and write down the highest level displayed in the “Before” space.

• Hold breath for 30 seconds (or comfortable time).

Safety:

• • Stop immediately if dizzy.

  • Do not compete for longest breath.

  • Sit down during breath-holding test.

• Clear your data and start fresh measurements.

Data Collection Table: CO₂ at Rest vs. Exercise

Part 4: Data Analysis

Now that you have collected your data, it is time to analyze your results.

• Create a bar graph to visually compare your results:

  • X-axis: Condition - Resting CO₂, Post-exercise CO₂, Post-breath-holding CO₂;

  • Y-axis: Maximum CO₂ (ppm)

Data Collection Table: CO₂ and Breath Holding

• Breathe again into the bag with databot. Write down the new value and calculate any
  change.

• Repeat the experiment twice more and record the values.

Part 5: Concept Questions

1. How does this lab demonstrate that the body is a system of interacting parts?

1. Why is carbon dioxide considered a waste product?