Aerobic & Anaerobic Exercise (AQA GCSE Physical Education (PE))

Understanding Aerobic & Anaerobic Exercise

• During exercise, cells of the muscles need to be supplied with sufficient energy for muscle contraction

• Cellular respiration is a reaction which is continuously occurring in living cells to release energy during exercise

Aerobic exercise

• Aerobic exercise occurs with a low to moderate demand for energy

  • Walking and jogging are examples of aerobic exercise where normal breathing can occur

• Exercise can take place aerobically (using oxygen) to transfer energy to muscles; glucose is reacted with oxygen in this process

• The equation that summarises the chemical reactions of aerobic exercise that release energy from glucose is:

Glucose + oxygen → energy + carbon dioxide + water

• Aerobic respiration releases more energy per glucose molecule than anaerobic because the glucose is fully broken down

Anaerobic exercise

• Anaerobic exercise involves high-intensity activities such as sprinting and heavy weightlifting

  • These exercises cannot be maintained for long periods of time and doing so will leave the participant short of breath

• Exercise taking place anaerobically (without oxygen) can still transfer energy to muscles; it simply involves the incomplete breakdown of glucose into lactic acid

• A build-up of lactic acid can cause muscle fatigue and pain, and exercise will need to stop after a short time

• Anaerobic exercise can be summarised by the following equation:

Glucose → energy + lactic acid

Practical Examples of Aerobic & Anaerobic Exercise

• Different types of sporting activities can be linked to aerobic or anaerobic exercise

• This is linked to the duration and the intensity of the activity or exercise

  • Exercise which can be prolonged and is less intense will be aerobic

  • Exercise of short bursts and high intensity will be anaerobic

• Aerobic exercise examples:

  • walking/hiking

  • jogging

  • long-distance running (marathon)

  • distance swimming

• Anaerobic exercise examples:

  • sprinting

  • heavy weight-lifting

  • wrestling

  • high-intensity interval training (HIIT)

• Some activities will contain a mixture of both aerobic and anaerobic exercise. These are often team games and include:

  • football

  • hockey

  • rugby

  • tennis