ALTITUDE AND AIR COMPOSITION

Block 4 – Lesson 3

Do you think altitude affects athletes?

Do you think altitude affects athletes?

Yes, it does.

Altitude and Adaptations

When people or animals travel from the Coastal region to the Highlands, they experience a lack of oxygen pressure (less air).

As a result, a process of acclimatization takes place, in order to increase the amount of red cells. This process allows the body to perform its natural functions under different conditions.

THE AIRIt is the element living organismsbreathe in, in order to carry out the respiratoryprocess, which allows them to perform vitalfunctions like digestion, circulation, etc.Human beings take in approximately 15Kg. of air daily, much more than water.

AIR PROPERTIES

• It has less weight and less density than water.

• Its volume is indefinite.

• It does not exist in empty space.

• It is colorless, odorless and tasteless.

• It reacts under low temperatures and it compresses in ice.

AIR COMPOSITION

It is composed of Nitrogen (78.1%), Oxygen (20.9%), water vapor, Ozone, Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen and Noble Gases (1%).

Air composition does not vary from one place to another. What does vary is atmospheric pressure. It decreases as altitude increases.

At a height of 5.000m. oxygen pressure is reduced by half.

Be careful with the

SOROCHE*!!!

* Mountain sickness