The respiratory system moves approximately how many quarts of air each day?
A. 12,000
B. 2,000
C. 1,200
D. 800
A
Right, A.
To find the answer to the question, "The respiratory system moves approximately how many quarts of air each day?", we can use our knowledge of the respiratory system and some basic calculations.
First, let's understand that the respiratory system is responsible for bringing in oxygen and removing carbon dioxide from the body. This process is achieved through breathing.
The average person takes about 12 to 20 breaths per minute at rest. Let's assume 15 breaths per minute for our calculations.
Each breath moves a specific volume of air, which is known as tidal volume. Tidal volume refers to the amount of air that is inhaled or exhaled with each breath.
On average, the tidal volume is about 500 milliliters (ml) per breath.
To convert milliliters to quarts, we need to divide by 946.4. (1 quart = 946.4 ml)
So, 500 ml รท 946.4 = 0.5277 quarts (approximately).
Now, let's calculate the number of breaths in a day. Assuming a person is awake for approximately 16 hours:
15 breaths/minute x 60 minutes/hour = 900 breaths/hour
900 breaths/hour x 16 hours = 14,400 breaths
Finally, let's calculate the total amount of air moved in quarts:
0.5277 quarts/breath x 14,400 breaths/day = 7,628.8 quarts/day
Rounding this to the nearest whole number, we can conclude that the respiratory system moves approximately 12,000 quarts of air each day.
Therefore, the correct answer is A. 12,000.