Question 1

Why does my heart rate increase during exercise?

Accepted Answer

Your heart rate increases to pump more oxygenated blood to your working muscles. This is because your muscles need more oxygen to produce energy (via aerobic respiration) and need to remove waste products like carbon dioxide. The increase is triggered by the nervous system and hormones like adrenaline, which prepare your body for activity.

Question 2

What is the difference between short-term and long-term effects of exercise?

Accepted Answer

Short-term effects are immediate and temporary, lasting from minutes to hours after exercise. Examples include increased heart rate, breathing rate, and sweating. Long-term effects are adaptations that occur over weeks or months of regular training, such as lower resting heart rate, increased lung capacity, and stronger muscles. Short-term effects prepare the body for immediate activity, while long-term effects improve overall fitness.

Question 3

Why do I breathe heavily after exercise?

Accepted Answer

After exercise, you breathe heavily to repay the 'oxygen debt' incurred during anaerobic activity. During intense exercise, your body may use anaerobic respiration, producing lactic acid. Heavy breathing helps take in extra oxygen to convert lactic acid back into energy stores and remove carbon dioxide. This is called excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC).

Question 4

What is vascular shunting and why is it important?

Accepted Answer

Vascular shunting is the redistribution of blood flow from inactive organs (like the digestive system) to working muscles during exercise. It happens through vasodilation (widening) of blood vessels in muscles and vasoconstriction (narrowing) elsewhere. This ensures that active muscles receive more oxygen and nutrients while non-essential areas get less, optimising performance.

Question 5

How does the body cool down during exercise?

Accepted Answer

The body cools down through vasodilation and sweating. Vasodilation widens blood vessels near the skin, allowing more blood to flow to the surface, where heat is lost to the environment. Sweating produces moisture on the skin; as it evaporates, it removes heat. This helps maintain a safe core temperature during exercise.

Question 6

What happens to stroke volume during exercise?

Accepted Answer

Stroke volume increases during exercise because the heart contracts more forcefully and more blood returns to the heart (venous return). This means each heartbeat pumps more blood, increasing cardiac output (heart rate × stroke volume). In trained individuals, stroke volume can increase by 50% or more during maximal exercise.

Short-term effects of exercise

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Related Topics in OCR GCSE Physical Education

Aerobic and anaerobic exercise

Applied anatomy and physiology

Applying the principles of training

Characteristics of skilful movement

How to Revise Short-term effects of exercise — OCR GCSE Physical Education

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