A 16-year-old student whose heart rate is 140 bpm during class is considered to be?

A heart rate of 140 beats per minute (bpm) in a 16-year-old student during class typically indicates that the student is engaged in submaximal exercise. Submaximal exercise refers to physical activity that is done at an intensity that is lower than an individual’s maximum capacity. For a 16-year-old, a resting heart rate usually ranges from 60 to 100 bpm, so a heart rate of 140 bpm suggests that the student is exerting themselves but not at their maximum effort.

In this scenario, maximal exercise would usually push the heart rate to its upper limit, often exceeding 180 bpm for a teenager, depending on their fitness level and health. Given that the heart rate here is elevated but not maxed out, it aligns more accurately with submaximal activity, where the intensity is sufficient to increase heart rate and respiratory rate but still allows for some level of conversation and control.

The other options would inaccurately describe the level of exertion indicated by a 140 bpm heart rate, as resting, maximal exercise, and overexerting imply different physiological states that do not accurately fit this heart rate measure during a typical class scenario.