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LAB
How Does Fatigue Affect Muscle Performance?

Problem
A condition known as muscle fatigue occurs when certain waste products of
muscle activity (lactic acid) build up in the cells. Until these waste chemicals
are removed, the fatigue will continue.

Do the Following Activity:

Hold a spring-type clothespin between your thumb and index finger. Pinch the
ends together completely (until the two ends touch) and release them. Do this
as rapidly as possible for one minute. Record the number of times you could
squeeze the clothespin:

Hypothesis: Make a prediction of how many squeezes youll be able to do.

In this experiment, I predict that I will be able to squeeze the clothespin

__above 40 squezes__ times in one minute. I made this prediction because _Im
good with my hands and since i type fast that would mean that i will squeeze
fast, maybe even faster__

Dependent Variable: We will measure how many times we can squeeze the
clothespin in a minute
Independent Variable: Gender, boys vs girls
Data/Results:
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Trial # # of Squeezes in 1 minute

1 153
2 160
3 180
4 210
Average 175.75

Boys (averages) Girls (averages)

140.013 155.3

Conclusion: (Analyze your data and summarize your findings. Sate how the
results relate to the hypothesis.)

What we did was we were testing our finger muscles using clothespin for girls
vs boys. My hypothesis was right. The hypothesis was i could squeeze more than
40 times a minute, and it turns out I was right. We found out that the girls
have a higher average with squeezing a clothespin a lot under a minute. Maybe
boys don't use their fingers that much then girls.

Reflection Questions:
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1. Could you do as many in a minute the fourth time as you could do the first
time? Provide a biological explanation for these results.
I can do many because, if i just don't move my finger and just leave it still for a
little and massage it then my finger will be good for me to go again the fourth
time.

2. What does an increased pulse rate indicate about the heart rate and flow
of blood in someones body?
It increases as the pulse rate goes up, your heart rate goes up
It decreases as the pulse rate goes down, your heart rate slows
down and goes back to normal speed

3. If you want to increase your clothespin-squeezing rate, would you suggest

exercising or resting before you did it? Explain why you think your choice
is correct.

I would rest because, if you use all your energy, you will be tired and exhausted
from what you did. BUT! If you exercise a little then you can be better because
you will be used to it.

4. What do you think would happen to the number of squeezes if you were
asked to do a 5th trial for clothespin squeezing?

I would get even more because, your body is getting used to it.especially your
fingers and so, yea.

5. What effect did muscle fatigue have on the action of your hand muscles?
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It either made my fingers tired but it kept on going. Or, my finger got
stronger and more used to it.