NAME

PERIOD DATE

INTRODUCTION

One day you’re in the gym and a freak of nature walks in. This guy has massively ripped muscles from head to toe. As you watch the specimen, he approaches the squat rack. You begin to get excited as he loads the bar in the squat rack. You are wondering how much this guy squats. He begins to go through his warm-up sets. He starts with 135 and then 225. He puts 295 on the bar and begins his decent. Guess what? He is stuck at the bottom.

The next day at the gym you notice a short chubby guy walk in that you have not seen before. You watch as he approaches the squat rack. He begins to go through his warm-up sets. He starts his warm-up sets with 135, then 225, and then 315. Your are very surprised. This guys physique development does not even come close to the level of the freaks’ that was in the gym yesterday. This guy is now squatting 405 with ease. Eventually he moves up to 500 lbs. for 3 reps. This is a common scenario.

How do we explain the chubby guy squatting more than the lean muscular machine? Another example of this case is the comparison of powerlifters to bodybuilders. There is a noticeable difference in physicque development. The bodybuilders show supreme muscular and physicique development in comparison to the powerlifters; but powerlifters are usually stronger. There are numerous factors that contribute to the supreme strength displayed by the powerlifter.

*Excerpt taken from:

STATE THE PROBLEM: Does muscle size indicate muscle strength?

HYPOTHESIS: If muscle size is greater, then strength will be greater.

PROCEDURE: Muscle Strength vs. Muscle Size

  1. Measure the circumference of the muscle in your forearm in centimeters and record in the Table 1.
  2. Test your strength using the squeeze meter as instructed by your teacher.
  3. Record your strength in kilograms in Table 1.
  4. Also record your data on the class chart (Table 2.)
  5. Graph the class results and compare them to the direct relationship line provided.

Table 1. Personal Data

Circumference of Forearm (cm) / 30.0 cm
Strength of Squeeze (kg) / 41.8 kg

Table 2. Class Data

Name (initials) / Arm Circ (cm) / Grip Strength (kg) / Name (initials) / Arm Circ (cm) / Grip Strength (kg)
  1. LM
/ 30.0 cm / 41.8 kg /
  1. SM
/ 21.6cm / 21.7kg
  1. EB
/ 33.0 cm / 73.7 kg /
  1. NR
/ 23.0 cm / 25.7 kg
  1. BO
/ 25.0 cm / 55.4 kg /
  1. JD
/ 30.2 cm / 36.2 kg
  1. MM
/ 26.0 cm / 59.0 kg /
  1. ED
/ 24.3 cm / 27.2 kg
  1. IS
/ 22.5 cm / 24.0 kg /
  1. JM
/ 23.0cm / 32.6 kg
  1. JG
/ 22.6 cm / 66.3 kg /
  1. DK
/ 28 cm / 31.7 kg
  1. BM
/ 24.5cm / 23.4kg /
  1. JC
/ 30 cm / 40.0 kg
  1. AD
/ 23.5cm / 34.8 kg /
  1. EM
/ 25cm / 28.6kg
  1. MR
/ 26cm / 28.5 kg /
  1. AC
/ 21.0cm / 29.0kg
  1. MT
/ 20cm / 24.5kg /
  1. CE
/ 24.0cm / 27.3kg
  1. KE
/ 23.5cm / 26.1kg /
  1. JG
/ 24.5 cm / 29.6 kg
  1. HE
/ 23.5cm / 31.1kg /
  1. RL
/ 23cm / 27.8kg
  1. BC
/ 21.3cm / 25.6kg /
  1. LA
/ 22.5cm / 23.5 kg
  1. AK
/ 27.5cm / 32.1 kg /
  1. AE
/ 22.0 cm / 25.6 kg

1. Explain why your hypothesis was correct or incorrect.

Title: Muscle Size vs. Strength – Period 10

ARM CIRCUMFERENCE (cm)

2. Making Connections: What type of foods should you eat to promote building lean muscles?