Question

• Perform shoulder press, bench press and squats and find out who scores highest in these activities.
• Compare the body weight of a long distance runner and a sprinter in your school and see the difference.

Answer 1

Shoulder press, bench press and squats are external-resistance exercises. The person who lifts the heaviest weight or performs the best with correct technique scores highest because he or she can produce more muscular force. These activities are effective methods of improving strength using external weight as resistance. When comparing a long-distance runner and a sprinter, the main difference is body composition. A long-distance runner usually has a leaner body, less body fat and a higher proportion of slow-twitch fibres, which support aerobic endurance. A sprinter often has greater muscle mass, especially in the legs, and a higher proportion of fast-twitch fibres, which support anaerobic power. Body weight alone does not tell the full story; it must be seen in terms of fat weight and lean body weight.