Question 1
Why does an athlete breathe faster and deeper than usual after finishing the race?
Cellular respiration is the process during which oxygen breaks down glucose to produce carbon dioxide, water and energy.
During the run, the demand of energy is high in muscle cells but the supply of oxygen to produce energy is limited. Therefore, anaerobic respiration takes places in the muscle cells to fulfill the demand of energy. The partial breakdown of glucose produces lactic acid.
After finishing the race, an athlete breathe faster and deeper than usual so that more oxygen is supplied to the cells to completely breakdown the lactic acid into carbon dioxide and water.