Science project
Fun and Fitness: Which Video Game Provides the Best Workout?
Grade Level: Middle School/High School; Type: Other
Objective:
Determine which video game elevates the heart rate best and burns the most calories.
Research Questions:
- Which video game elevates the heart rate highest and burns the most calories?
- How does the number of calories burned using a video game workout compare to the number burned with traditional methods of exercise?
Video gaming systems have developed a variety of “games” designed to provide participants with a good workout. Are these games effective at burning calories, and how do they compare to traditional methods of exercise like running? Test these games by using a device that will measure heart rate and calories burned while participants workout.
Materials:
- Nintendo Wii
- Microsoft Xbox
- Sony PlayStation 3
- Xbox Kinect
- Select several workout video games to test
- Wireless calorimeter/heart rate monitor
- Notebook for recording results
Experimental Procedure:
- Select several workout games that can be used with the Wii, Xbox, and/or PlayStation 3.
- Ask a test subject to perform a different workout every day. Ask the test subject to do a more conventional workout (like jogging) on one of the days. Use a calorimeter/heart rate monitor to track calories burned and heart rate while exercising.
- Repeat test for several different subjects.
- Evaluate your data.
Sample table for recording data:
|
|
# of Minutes |
Average Heart Rate |
Calories Burned |
|
|
Test Subject 1 |
Game 1 |
|
|
|
|
Game 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Game 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Jogging
|
|
|
|
|
|
Test Subject 2 |
Game 1 |
|
|
|
|
Game 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Game 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Jogging
|
|
|
|
|
Terms/Concepts: Health benefits of exercise; How are calories burned?; What types of exercise burn the most calories?
References:
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