Determining Lung Capacity

Determining lung capacity

Experiment: This is the experiment of determining lung capacity. All the students in the group measured three types of different parameters: vital capacity, expiratory reserve and tidal volume. “Lung volumeizing refer to physical differences in lung volume, while lung capacities represent different combinations of lung volumes, usually in relation to inhalation and exhalation.

The average pair of human lungs can hold about 6 liters of air, but only a small amount of this capacity is used during normal breathing. Several factors affect lung volumes, some that can be controlled and some that can not. Lung volumes can be measured using the following terms:

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Table 1

The results that were measured during the experiment are showen in the table. Vital capacity is the amount of air that can be forced out of the lungs after maximal inspiration. The precise formula for measuring vital capacity is: Inspiratory reserve volume( IRV) + Tidal volume( TV) + Expiratory reserve volume (ERV). My calculations showed next values of diameter of the balloon: First measurement = 19 cm Second measurement = 20 cm Third measurement = 21 cm Fourth measurement = 21 cm Average one is = 20. 25 However, the only formula that we used in this experiment to calculate the volume in balloon is next one: VOLUME = 1. 33, where r = [pic] of the average diameter of the balloon and [pic]= 3. 14. So in this case, vital capacity is: r = 10. 125 V= 1. 33 [pic] 3. 14 [pic]( 10. 125)[pic] V= 4334. 77 2. Expiratory reserve capacity is the amount of additional air that can be breathed out after the end expiratory level of normal breathing. Expiratory reserve that was measured showed next values: First measurement =13. 5 cm Second measurement = 14 cm Third measurement = 13. 5 cm Fourth measurement = 14 cm Average one is = 13. 75 r = 6. 875 V = 1. 33 [pic] 3. 14 [pic]( 6. 875)[pic] V = 1357. 06 3. Tidal volume is the amount of air breathed in or out during normal respiration. Tidal volume that was measured showe next results: First measurement = 15 cm Second measurement = 15. 5 cm Third measurement = 15. 5 cm Fourth measurement = 15 cm Average one is = 15. 25 r = 7. 625 V = 1. 33 [pic] 3. 14 [pic]( 7. 625)[pic] V = 1851. 402 Conclusion: It is possible to deduce that each of the volumes is bigger in males than in females.

This is because of the construction of the body, where men need larger lung capacity than women. In this way we proved the statement is the Table 1. The other thing that was proved is that athlets have much bigger lung capacity than those who don't play any sport. This is better shown in female example in this experiment. We can see also that the vital capacity is the largest because it represent the amount of air exhaled after maximum inhalation. Tidal volume is smaller, because it is the air exhaled during normal respiration. However, it is also shown that Expiratory reserve is the smallest, because it represents the amount of air exhaled right before next inhalation.

Evaluation: We could extend this experiment by measuring other values such as:

• „Total Lung Capacity (TLC). The formula for calculating TLC is = IRV + TV + ERV + RV. This is the volume of gas contained in the lung at the end of maximal inspiration.
• Forced vital capacity. This is the amount of air that can be maximally forced out of the lungs after a maximal inspiration.
• Residual volume (RV). This is the amount of air left in the lungs after a maximal exhalation.
• Inspiratory reserve volume ( IRV). The formula for calcutaing IRV = VC- ( TV + ERV). This is the additional air that can be inhaled after a normal tidal breath in.
• Functional residual capacity (FRC).
• The formula for calculating FRC = ERV+ RV. This is the amount of air left in the lungs after a tidal breath out.
• Inspiratory capacity ( IC). The formula for calculating IC = TV + IRV.

This is the volume that can be inhaled after a tidal breathe-out. ”[5] In this way, it would be possible to calculate all the values using the right formulas. In this experiment, we might have some errors. During the measurement of the diameter of the balloon, it is possible that the values read on the ruler were wrong. Graph showing vital capacity of the students Graph showing expiratory reserve of the students Graph showing tidal volume of the students

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