Question

During gym class, Raul walks briskly for a half hour. Jenna decides to sprint and run the bleachers for the same amount of time. Which statement best compares the cellular processes occurring in each student during this time?
Jenna’s cells are producing more lactic acid than Raul’s cells.
Raul’s cells are producing more lactic acid than Jenna’s cells.
Jenna’s cells are using more protein than Raul’s cells.
Raul’s cells are using more glycogen than Jenna’s cells.

Answer 1

Answer:

Jenna’s cells are producing more lactic acid than Raul’s cells.

Explanation:

During workouts like bleachers and sprints body, body experiences lack of oxygen and depends mainly on anaerobic respiration for energy production.

During anaerobic respiration, one molecule of glucose produces two molecules of ATP and two molecules of lactic acid. Hence, it leads to accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles.

On the other hand, during slow walking, body mainly depends for aerobic respiration, during which one molecule of glucose gets completely oxidized to form 36 ATP molecules.

As Jenna is performing anaerobic exercise and while Raul is performing aerobic exercise, more lactic acid would be produced by Jenna's cells that Raul's cells.

Answer 2

Answer:

The correct answer would be Jenna’s cells are producing more lactic acid than Raul’s cells.

Workouts like sprints, bleachers, weight training et cetera come under the anaerobic zone of training.

They cause lack of oxygen in the muscles due to which muscles undergo lactic acid fermentation to produce energy (ATP).

Lactic acid fermentation converts one molecule of glucose into 2 molecules of lactic acid with a net gain of 2 ATP (as compared to 36-38 ATP produced in aerobic respiration).

Decreased efficiency in energy production leads to the utilization of more and more glucose or glycogen reserves of the muscles and lead to the accumulation of more and more lactic acid.