Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercise: Definitions and Sporting Examples
Aerobic exercise is exercise performed at an intensity where the demand for oxygen can be met by the oxygen the performer breathes in, allowing it to be sustained for a long duration, for example marathon running.
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Method
- Learn the precise definitions: aerobic exercise is performed at an intensity where the demand for oxygen can be met by supply, allowing it to continue for a long duration; anaerobic exercise is performed at an intensity so high that oxygen demand exceeds supply, so it can only be sustained for a short time.
- Learn practical indicators used to judge whether an activity is aerobic or anaerobic: aerobic exercise can usually be sustained while still able to talk in short sentences (moderate intensity); anaerobic exercise leaves a performer breathless and unable to talk, and can only be maintained briefly.
- Learn a range of named sporting examples for each type, choosing ones with a clear, consistent intensity and duration, e.g. marathon running is aerobic, a 100m sprint or a javelin throw is anaerobic.
- Learn that intermittent team sports such as football, netball and hockey use both types at different moments, and practise identifying which type a specific action within the sport uses, e.g. jogging back into position is aerobic, sprinting to intercept a pass is anaerobic.
- Learn the basic word equations again in this context, so a question can ask you to link a definition to the correct oxygen use and by-product.
- For explain questions, justify your classification using intensity AND duration together, since a single factor alone can be misleading, e.g. a fast walk is lower intensity but could still be classed as aerobic even over a long duration.
- For extended questions, take a named sport with clear phases of both types, classify and justify each phase in turn, then give a summary judgement on which type dominates overall.
Worked example
A netball player spends the match performing a mixture of jogging to maintain position and short sprints to intercept the ball. Classify each of these two actions as aerobic or anaerobic exercise, and justify your classification for each.
- Classify jogging to maintain position: aerobic exercise.
- Justify: it is a lower-intensity, longer-duration action where the demand for oxygen can be met by what the player breathes in, so it can be sustained without becoming breathless.
- Classify the short sprint to intercept the ball: anaerobic exercise.
- Justify: it is a very high-intensity, short-duration action where the demand for oxygen outstrips supply, so energy is produced without oxygen and the effort can only be maintained for a few seconds.
- Summarise: netball therefore uses both types of exercise, switching between them depending on the demands of the moment in the game.
Practice questions
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Q1Define aerobic exercise.Show answer
Answer: Exercise performed at an intensity where the demand for oxygen can be met by the oxygen the body takes in, allowing it to be sustained for a long period.
Q2Define anaerobic exercise.Show answer
Answer: Exercise performed at an intensity so high that oxygen demand exceeds supply, meaning it can only be sustained for a short period.
Q3Classify a marathon as aerobic or anaerobic exercise.Show answer
Answer: Aerobic.
Q4Classify a 100m sprint as aerobic or anaerobic exercise.Show answer
Answer: Anaerobic.
Q5State one physical sign that a performer is exercising anaerobically.Show answer
Answer: They become breathless and are unable to hold a conversation, or they fatigue very quickly.
Q6Name one team sport in which players use both aerobic and anaerobic exercise during a single match.Show answer
Answer: For example, football, hockey or netball.
Q7State the by-product produced during anaerobic exercise that is not produced during aerobic exercise.Show answer
Answer: Lactic acid.
Q8Give one reason a fast walk lasting an hour would be classed as aerobic rather than anaerobic exercise.Show answer
Answer: Because the intensity is low enough for oxygen supply to meet demand throughout, allowing it to be sustained for the full hour without becoming breathless.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE Physical Education exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
A rugby player performs a 20-metre sprint to chase a kick, followed by several minutes of jogging back into position. Explain, using evidence of intensity and duration, why the sprint is anaerobic exercise while the jog is aerobic exercise.
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Using named sporting examples, describe the differences between aerobic and anaerobic exercise, covering intensity, duration, oxygen supply and by-products.
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Free printable worksheet
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