2. What is Energy?
• Energy is a property of objects which can be transferred to other
objects or converted into different forms. (Wikipedia 2016)
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• There are three main energy systems used in day to day life, and
definitely in sport, these are:
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Creatine Phosphate System
Lactic Acid System
Aerobic Energy System
3. What do we need energy for?
• Energy is used by many different things, not only human beings, for
example Electrical Energy, this would be used when you turn on a
lightbulb, the lightbulb will change to use light energy and have a
waste output of heat.
But we need energy for multiple reasons too:
• Muscular Contraction and Movement
• Circulation
• Digestion of Food
• Repairing and replacing of tissues
• Transmission of nerve impulses
4. What is ATP
• ATP: Adenosine Triphosphate, this consists of a base (adenine) and
three phosphate groups. It is formed by a reaction between
Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP) molecule and a phosphate. ATP is an
adaptable molecule than can be used for many different things.
Energy is stored in chemical bonds in the molecules and is released
when broken. (BTEC sport Level 3 Book 1 2010)
•
6. Creatine Phosphate System
Creatine Phosphate is the first Energy System, this system is also known as the Immediate Energy System,
it is called this because it is the bodies first resolution when we start to exercise. ATP and Creatine
Phosphate (phosphocreatine) are the basis of ATP-PCr system.
For this energy system to be used the exercise usually has to be of a high intensity or the energy is
needed straightaway, so Creatine Phosphate found in the muscles, breaks down to deliver energy making
ATP. Also this system doesn’t require oxygen, as that would add to how quickly energy can be made, and
as this energy is rapid response it needs to be as fast as possible. However PCr doesn’t last forever so the
length of time it can be used is limited, usually averaging up to 10 seconds. However the recovery time of
this system is very quick, and is said to be restored almost as quickly as it is released.
Some sports that require the use of this energy system would be, football, basketball, shotput and
sprinting.
Amount of ATP produced:
ADP + Creatine Phosphate -> ATP+ Creatine
7. Lactic Acid System
The Lactic Acid System is also known as the short term energy system, this is because it is not as
fast and readily available as the Creatine Phosphate System but it is quicker than the Aerobic
Energy System.
This energy system meets the requirements of high intensity exercise but over a longer period of
time, for example the 400m or a hockey match, however it would only be used at the beginning of
each event. The energy system is sufficient for these types of activity because energy takes slightly
longer to attain but you can use it for a more extensive amount of time, this is because the ATP is
made by the part break down of two components, Glycogen (stored in liver and muscles) and
Glucose, this process doesn’t need oxygen either, like the Creatine Phosphate System.
Yet this system doesn’t last for an extensive amount of time, at a maximum of 60-90 seconds.
However this system does take much longer to recover at approximately 8 minutes to fully recover.
However this time can be decreased by a process called active recovery, for example if you sprinted
for a length of time, then you would jog slowly to recovery instead of just stopping.
Amount of ATP produced:
Glucose -> 2 ATP + 2 Lactic Acid + Heat
Glycogen -> 3 ATP + 2 Lactic Acid + Heat
8. Aerobic Energy System
The Aerobic Energy system also known as the long-term energy system, it is called this because the
energy takes quite a long time to process, the longest out of the three systems.
This energy system is used when doing light exercise, daily routines and more continuous exercise such
as long distance track events, this is because plenty of oxygen is available and the activity isn’t too
strenuous. For the ATP to be produced fatty acids and glycogen are broken down, with the aid of oxygen
unlike the other energy systems. Also water and carbon dioxide are a product of this system, luckily
these two products don’t affect the ability for muscles to contract.
The energy production occurs in the mitochondria of each cell, this is where conversion of food into
energy takes place. This is quite a lengthy process, as it takes a couple of minutes for the heart to pump
oxygenated blood into the muscles that are moving. If Lactic acid is made if you ran out of breath while
running, mainly after the race it will take around 45-60 minutes for the body to recover, yet this time can
also be reduced be active recovery.
Amount of ATP produced:
Glucose + oxygen -> 38 ATP + carbon dioxide + water + heat
Fatty Acids + oxygen -> 129 ATP + carbon dioxide + water +
heat
