WILL MARK BRAINLIST EXPERIMENT: HEART RATE
In this investigation, you will take your own pulse and a friend's to measure the rate of the beating of your hearts. Then, you will see what happens to your heart rates after strenuous exercise.

Two methods are frequently used to check heart rate. The first method requires counting the number of heart beats in 15 seconds and then multiplying that number by 4. The second method requires counting the number of beats in 60 seconds.

The abbreviated method of pulse-taking can be slightly less accurate than counting the number of beats in 60 seconds, but it is commonly used by people in the field of medicine to save time. You will take your own pulse using both methods and determine how accurate each method is.

Here are your goals for this lesson:

Calculate heart rate using both abbreviated and standard methods
Compare a resting heart rate to a rate following brief exercise
Record data and summarize findings This item is needed: watch with a second hand

Follow these steps. Hold the first two fingers of your right hand lightly against the inside of your left wrist. Another good place to find a pulse is on your neck, to one side of the voice box.
Feel the soft beat beneath your fingers.
Use the watch with a second hand to count the number of beats in one minute. Record the number of beats per minute.
Using the watch with the second hand, count the number of beats in fifteen seconds. Multiply your result times 4 for the number of beats per minute. Record.
Count the number of beats in ten seconds. Multiply your result times 6 for the number of beats per minute and record.
Take the pulse of one of your parents or friends. Record the number of beats per minute using the minute method, the fifteen-second method, and the ten-second method. Record the results. Run in place with your friend for one minute. Take both of your pulses again. Record them.