Investigating the effects of ... On Pulse and Blood Pressure

Designing and Investigation

Prediction/Hypothesis...• You need a testable question

What effect will smoking have on blood pressure• Prediction: Do you think there will be an effect.It is predicted that smoking will affect blood pressure• Hypothesis: A prediction of what you think will

happen based on research or prior knowledgeBased on evidence found in Nelson’s Biology 11, that

nicotine in cigarettes causes narrowing of the arteries, it is hypothesized that smoking will cause

blood pressure to increase.

Procedure• Create a numbered order of steps that anyone

would be able to follow.

Anyone should be able to pick up your procedure and complete it.

Ie: 1 – Have person sit quietly for 1 min.2 – Using two fingers, take pulse at carotid artery (just beside the

Adam’s Apple) by counting the number of beats for 1 min. (Record this in a table)

3 – Have partner expose upper arm. Wrap blood pressure cuff just above the elbow.

Independent and Dependant variable

• Independent variable: The variable/factor you change (Input variable)

• Dependant variable: The variable/factor that changes (Outcome variable)

1) What is the independent variable in thisexperiment?2) What is the dependant variable in thisexperiment?

Controlled variables…

• Which variables will you have to keep constant throughout your experiment?

How long you exercise for

Where you do the experiment

How long you exercise for each time

How long you rest between repeats

What type of exercise you do each time

Results

• You need to record your results• Will you record them in a table?• You will need to graph your results.• What are you comparing (Looking at trends)? – Resting position to laying down to standing?– Resting BP to BP after exercise – Resting position to push ups or squats?