Final answer:
Aerobic physical activity is done for longer time periods, relying on oxygen to meet energy demands and typically involving lower intensity activities like running or swimming. Anaerobic activity is characterized by short, high-intensity bursts, such as sprinting or lifting heavy weights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of physical activity that is done for longer time periods is aerobic physical activity. Aerobic exercises involve lower intensity activities sustained over a longer duration, which rely heavily on the aerobic energy-generating process. This includes using oxygen to meet the energy demands during exercise. On the other hand, anaerobic physical activity is characterized by short bursts of high-intensity exercise that do not rely as much on oxygen and are sustained only for short durations. Common examples of aerobic exercise are medium to long distance running, jogging, swimming, and cycling. In contrast, anaerobic exercises include activities like sprinting and lifting heavy weights.
Aerobic exercise typically uses a high percentage of slow-twitch muscle fibers that consume large amounts of oxygen, making it possible to continue the exercise over longer periods. It is beneficial for increasing cardiovascular endurance and can have many other benefits, including muscle toning. On the other hand, anaerobic exercise predominantly uses fast-twitch muscle fibers, relies less on oxygen, and usually involves shorter, more intense bursts of activity.