Heart Rate and Fitness Index vs.

Duration

Date performed: 1/7/2020

Purpose: The purpose of this lab is to test how pulse rates correlate to fitness index in people

who are athletes and those who are not.

Hypothesis: If someone has a higher fitness index score after exercise, then their heart rate has a

faster recovery time than someone with a lower index score, because that means they are a “more

fit” person.

Null Hypothesis: If the intensity of exercise in increased, then heart rate will not increase.

Procedure:

1) Have one person stand at the base of a step and be prepared to perform the Step Test. The

test will last 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Before beginning, take the person’s pulse for 30

seconds. Multiply by 2 to get your beats per minute before the test.
2) Begin the step test at a pace of 120 beats per minute. Step up and down with the beat and

continue for the designated amount of time.

3) Take the stepper’s pulse at 1 minute after, 2 minutes after, and 3 minutes after the test was

administered. Record the results in your data table.

4) Repeat steps 1-3 and record information again.
5) Calculate the fitness index by using the formula FI= (Duration of test in seconds)/

(t1+t2+t3) x 100
6) Compare to other groups data

Data:

Step Rate: 90 steps in 3.5 minutes or 25.7 steps per minute

Isabella’s Results:
Measurements Test 1 Test 2
Before step test Pulse Rate 72 79

(bpm)
1 minute after step test Pulse 95 86

Rate (bpm) = t1
2 minutes after step test Pulse 83 80

Rate (bpm) = t2
3 minutes after step test Pulse 71 73

Rate (bpm) = t3
Fitness Index 84 88

Compared Results: Test 1 (top) and Test 2 (bottom)

Subject Isabella Caroline Avi

Before test Pulse 72 82 62

(bpm)
1 minute after Pulse 95 74 70

(bpm)
2 minutes after Pulse 86 62 100

(bpm)
3 minutes after Pulse 71 66 120

(bpm)
Fitness Index 84 89.1 62.1
Athlete? Yes Yes Yes

Subject Isabella Caroline Avi

Before test Pulse 79 72 62

(bpm)
1 minute after Pulse 86 74 84

(bpm)
2 minutes after Pulse 80 70 90

(bpm)
3 minutes after Pulse 73 72 96
(bpm)
Fitness Index 88 83.3 66.7
Athlete? Yes Yes Yes

Pulse Rate Before and 3 Minutes After Step Test

Before (bpm) After (bpm)

Isabella 72 71
Caroline 82 66
Avi 62 120

Calculations and Graphs:

Test 1 Fitness Index: (210 sec)/(95 sec+83 sec+71sec) x 100 = 84

Test 2 Fitness Index: (210 sec)/(86 sec+80 sec +73sec) x 100 = 88

*time 0 represents the starting HR on graphs

Isabella's Heart Rate (bpm) vs Duration (min)

100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 1 2 3
Test 1 Test 2
Heart Rate (bpm)
Comparative Test 1: Heart Rate (bpm) vs Duration After Test (min)
140

120

100

80

60

40

20
Time (sec)
0
0 1 2 3
Is a bella Caroline Avi

Heart Rate (bpm)

Time (sec)
Heart Rate (bpm)
Comparative Test 2: Heart Rate (bpm) vs Duration After Test (min)
120

100

80

60

40

20

0
0 1 2 3
Is a bella Caroline Avi

Time (sec)

Heart Rate (bpm)

 Comparative Heart Rate before Test vs Heart Rate After Test
140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0
Is a bel l a Carol i ne Avi
Before After

Time (sec)

Conclusion:

From this experiment, one can conclude that heart rate will increase after exercise. In

addition, one can conclude that if your heart rate recovers faster, one would have a higher fitness

index. This supports my hypothesis through my data.

Discussion of Theory:

In this lab, the participants attempted to define a relationship between heart rate and

fitness level. 2 tests were done to have multiple tests of heart rate. Then the fitness level was

calculated. The experiment shows the correlation between the heart rate and fitness index level.

Mrs. Curran took time out of class for this lab to explain how lab procedures are performed and

how to write a correct formal lab report. The human body needs to maintain homeostasis, so it

will increase heart rate to get oxygen to the muscles. The increased heart rate can carry oxygen

faster to through the blood for the tiring muscles.

Experimental Sources of Error:

The Fitbit that the person writing this lab wears could have measured her heart rate

incorrectly. These could make her fitness index lower depending on how off the measurement

ended up being.

Questions:

1) What was your independent variable for your experiment? On which axis would you

graph this?
 Time is the independent variable, and it is graphed on the x-axis.
2) What was the dependent variable? Write this on the appropriate axis.
 Heart rate is the dependent variable, and it would be graphed on the y-axis.
3) Imagine an experiment similar to the one you have performed where it would be

appropriate to use a line graph.

 Position vs Time graphs can use a line graph.

*Other questions were to add a legend and title to the graphs.