Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercise

• The anaerobic respiratory system supplies energy very quickly for sports such as vaulting in gymnastics or throwing a javelin where the activity only lasts a few seconds.
• What is anaerobic exercise?

  Exercise performed without oxygen - It is high intensity , short duration exercise
• Why can anaerobic exercise only be sustained for a short time?

  Because of the build up lactic acid
• Some examples of anaerobic exercise include : sprinting , long jump, making a tackle in football, shooting at goal in netball and serving in tennis.
• What does the anaerobic respiratory break things down into?

  It breaks down glucose into lactic acid - glucose is derived from carbohydrates and produces energy quickly
• What is the equation for anaerobic exercise?

  Glucose ---> energy + lactic acid
• The lactic acid energy system produces the majority of the energy for moderate to high intensity activities (e.g. 400 m). What is a fatiguing by-product of this system?

  Lactic acid - it causes pain and discomfort in the working muscles
• The winner of a 400m race is typically the person who slows down the least (Remember, lactic acid causes pain and discomfort in the working muscles)
• What causes fatigue in anaerobic exercise?

  The lack of oxygen and the build up of lactic acid
• What is oxygen debt?

  The lack of oxygen and the build-up of lactic acid that causes fatigue. Oxygen debt is where the anaerobic systems require oxygen to restore them
• What does the body do in order to 'repay' oxygen debt?

  After taking part in exercise , a person continues to breathe more deeply and rapidly than when at rest to take in additional oxygen
• What is the additional oxygen , that is taken in after exercise to repay oxygen debt, used for?

  It is used to break down lactic acid to carbon dioxide and water . It is also used to replenish the creatine phosphate stores
• What is the aerobic respiratory system responsible for?

  Producing the majority of energy while our bodies are at rest or taking part in low intensity exercise for long periods of time (e.g. jogging or long-distance cycling)
• Aerobic exercise is exercise that takes place in the presence of oxygen - it is low intensity , long duration
• Why can aerobic exercise be sustained for a prolonged period of time?

  There is lots of glucose available and no great build up of lactic acid
• The equation for the aerobic respiratory system is

  Glucose + oxygen ---> energy + water + carbon dioxide
• What supplies the energy for the aerobic energy system that can supplied for long periods of time?

  Glucose from carbohydrates and fats
• True or false : Bananas are a carbohydrate food source?

  True
• True or False : Nuts are NOT a fat food source?

  False