A method for estimating the human metabolic rate is described. It entails measuring the rate at which carbon dioxide is produced by glucose oxidation during respiration. Such measurements can enhance classroom presentations of the concept of energy and its interconversion. Measurements of this type can also augment classroom discussions of related topics such as entropy production in nonequilibrium systems. The ideas are appropriate at both the high school and college levels and should appeal to student interest in metabolism, physiology, and medical physics.
REFERENCES
1.
D. P. Shoemaker, C. W. Garland, and J. W. Nibler, Experiments in Physical Chemistry (McGraw–Hill, New York, 1989), 5th ed., Chap. IV.
2.
L. Pauling, General Chemistry (Dover, New York, 1970), Chap. 8.
3.
A. White, P. Handler, and E. L. Smith, Principles of Biochemistry (McGraw–Hill, New York, 1973), 5th ed., Chap. 14.
4.
R. C. Seagrave, Biomedical Applications of Heat and Mass Transfer (Iowa State U.P., Ames, 1971), Chap. 2.
5.
See Ref. 3, Chap. 13.
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© 2001 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2001
American Association of Physics Teachers
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