2. What is energy and ATP?
We get our energy into our bodies from eating foods; fats, proteins, carbohydrates are
our main sources of energy. This keeps us alive. The body then converts these foods
into current energy, which is known as adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP). Cleverly the
body uses this energy that it gets from the foods to act as a fuel to the working
muscles to enable movement.
There are 2 ways in which he body can make ATP, one of these is through an anaerobic
pathway which means without oxygen, a good sporting example would be 100m
sprint. On the other hand the other way the body makes it is aerobically, which means
with oxygen, a good sporting example would be a long distance runner. The ATP is
given off slowly aerobically as it doesn’t need a large supply of it, however
anaerobically it is given off quicker as the demand for it is higher.
3. Thermodynamics
Heat
Energy
Light from the sun
shines on the
earth making the
grass grow
Plants contain a
lot of chemical
carbohydrate
energy
The cow eats the
grassed so the
cow takes on
some of the
energy
The human
then eats the
cow, so he
then takes on
some energy
4. What do we need energy for?
What do we need
energy for?
Digestion of
foods – when
we digest food
the food energy
is converted into
chemical energy
Muscular
contractions and
movement-
energy makes
things move so
without it we
wouldn’t be able
to freely move or
do day to day
things.
Circulation- energy is
needed to give things the
power to move so without
blood wouldn’t be able to
flow around the body
Transmission
of nerve
impulses-A
nerve impulse is
a wave of
electrical
activity that
passes from
one end of a
neuron to the
other
Repairing and
Replacing tissues-
proteins help growth
and repair so energy
transports those
proteins for our bodies
benefit
5. Overview of the 3 energy systems…
ATP-PC System – The job of the ATP-PC system is to produce a constant flow of
ATP around the body for daily activity. It is important as it fuels the metabolism
along with other important bodily systems with the energy it needs to keep us
alive
Lactic acid system – the lactic acid system fuels us for very short periods of time as
it fuels the high intensity muscles e.g. weight lifting
Aerobic system – the aerobic system is the most complexed one out of the three
systems as it produces the most ATP for the longest amount of time
In conclusion each energy system does its job to allow us to keep up with our day
to day lifestyles and fuels ur bodies for this to happen
6. Phosphocreatine
The muscles in the body use ATP to power contractions. When one molecule of
ATP is used in the contraction process, it is hydrolysed to adenosine diphosphate
(ADP). The ATP is used up quickly and needs to be refilled by using
phosphocreatine by converting the ADP into ATP in the cells. Once the
phosphocreatine has converted it, it usually gives 5-8 seconds production. The
recovery time get quicker every time you do the intense exercises as your body
becomes more use to it and you become fitter.
High intensity sports such as football and field throwing events such as javeline
use the most phosphocreatine.
7. Lactic acid system
The lactic acid system occurs throughout anaerobic respiration. This is when your
body works without oxygen to produce the maximum amount of power for a
short period of time, such as jumping or sprinting. Your muscles need oxygen to
enable them to work so without oxygen there is a build up of lactic acid as the
muscles are starved of oxygen. Lactate is the substance that is made when there
isn’t enough oxygen in a muscle to complete the process. Your body can make
energy out of the lactate however as this happens the lactic acid builds up quicker
than you can get rid of it, and therefore it makes your legs feel heavy and you
unable to continue.
8. Aerobic energy system
In the aerobic energy system the ATP is the current of energy flowing around the
body. The ATP releases the energy to a variety of muscles around the body to give
them the energy they need in order to move. For example; a long distance runner
takes in the right amount of energy through the correct nutrients the ATP will
continue to fuel the muscles which will mean the runner can carry on with ease.
Using the aerobic system is a good way for people to lose weight as the body east
into the fat stores to increase the amount of energy that is needed for long
distance runners.
This can affect your legs as it will take longer for them to recover but the more
you continue the less recovery time will be needed
