Year 8 Science · Unit 1 · Lesson 10

Gas Exchange and System Interaction

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Learning Goals

Because… chain

Fill in the missing effects. Each cause leads to the next step in the chain.

The respiratory system brings oxygen into the body
Oxygen enters the blood and is transported by the circulatory system
Body cells receive oxygen
Cells produce carbon dioxide as a waste product

Overall outcome when both systems work together:

Real-world context

During altitude training in the Australian Alps, athletes breathe air that contains less oxygen than at sea level. Their bodies respond by increasing heart rate and breathing rate. Researchers at the Australian Institute of Sport have studied how this dual increase in both breathing and circulation improves the delivery of oxygen to muscle cells.

(a) Name the two body systems that speed up during altitude training. For each one, explain its specific role in delivering oxygen to muscle cells.

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(b) A student says: "If you breathe faster at altitude, the muscles will automatically get more oxygen." Explain what is missing from this explanation, using what you know about system interaction.

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1. What would happen to body cells if the circulatory system stopped working, even though the respiratory system was still exchanging gases normally? Use the idea of "system interaction" in your answer.

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Wrap Up

In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?