Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 82 views

    ACTIVITY: The Skin and Temperature Control: Key Concepts

    Uploaded by

    kennyq
    The document describes an experiment that uses test tubes filled with hot water to model heat loss from the skin and thermoregulation in mammals. In part A, test tubes with different insulation materials are used to show that cotton wool is the most effective at reducing heat loss. Part B examines the effects of moisture and air movement, finding that a wet test tube with a fan loses heat the fastest, modeling evaporation and convection in thermoregulation. The conclusion is that the experiment effectively models adaptations for maintaining a constant body temperature.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    ACTIVITY: The Skin and Temperature Control: Key Concepts

    Uploaded by

    kennyq
    82 views4 pages
    The document describes an experiment that uses test tubes filled with hot water to model heat loss from the skin and thermoregulation in mammals. In part A, test tubes with different insulation materials are used to show that cotton wool is the most effective at reducing heat loss. Part B examines the effects of moisture and air movement, finding that a wet test tube with a fan loses heat the fastest, modeling evaporation and convection in thermoregulation. The conclusion is that the experiment effectively models adaptations for maintaining a constant body temperature.

    Original Title

    skin_and_temp_experiment__no_dataloggers_ (3).docx

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The document describes an experiment that uses test tubes filled with hot water to model heat loss from the skin and thermoregulation in mammals. In part A, test tubes with different insulation materials are used to show that cotton wool is the most effective at reducing heat loss. Part B examines the effects of moisture and air movement, finding that a wet test tube with a fan loses heat the fastest, modeling evaporation and convection in thermoregulation. The conclusion is that the experiment effectively models adaptations for maintaining a constant body temperature.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    82 views4 pages

    ACTIVITY: The Skin and Temperature Control: Key Concepts

    Uploaded by

    kennyq
    The document describes an experiment that uses test tubes filled with hot water to model heat loss from the skin and thermoregulation in mammals. In part A, test tubes with different insulation materials are used to show that cotton wool is the most effective at reducing heat loss. Part B examines the effects of moisture and air movement, finding that a wet test tube with a fan loses heat the fastest, modeling evaporation and convection in thermoregulation. The conclusion is that the experiment effectively models adaptations for maintaining a constant body temperature.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 4
    At a glance
    Powered by AI
    The passage describes an experiment that models how different factors like insulation, moisture, air movement, and physiology can influence heat loss from the body and help mammals maintain a constant body temperature.

    Insulation works by trapping a layer of air between the body and the environment, which reduces convection and conduction of heat away from the body. Materials like fur, fat, and feathers provide insulation for mammals.

    Factors that can increase heat loss include moisture on the skin from perspiration, exposure to moving air through convection, and lack of insulation. These were modeled in the experiment using wet cotton wool and a fan.

    Name ……….…………………………………….

    ACTIVITY: The skin and temperature control


    Key concepts
    Before you start, make sure you are familiar with the concepts and terms below. In the each space write your
    understanding of the term: (1)

    Thermoregulation ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

    Homeostasis …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

    Evaporation ………………….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

    Convection ……….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

    Negative feedback model……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
    After completing the activity and discussing your findings, you may need to revisit these terms and adjust or
    extend what you have written.

    Introduction
    Body temperature in humans is normally around 370C. This temperature varies little, even when external
    conditions change dramatically. What are some adaptations that mammals have to help maintain a fairly
    constant body temperature?

    Purpose
    To use modeling to simulate heat loss from an exposed surface such as the skin.

    Materials
    Each group requires:
    o hot water
    o 4 thin test tubes
    o 1 thick test tube
    o 4 thermometers
    o 4 beakers
    o rubber band
    o measuring cylinder
    o cotton wool
    o stopwatch
    o fan (one to be shared by the whole class)
    o spray bottle of warm water.
    METHOD

    Part A: The effect of insulation on heat loss

    o Take three test tubes, labelled A, B and C, and place in separate beakers.
    o Wrap test tube A in cotton wool (insulating material).
    o Place test tube B in the thicker test tube with the same amount of wool on the outside of the larger
    test tube (so there is a layer of air between the test tube and the insulation). Block the gap
    between the test tube and test tube with wool.
    o Test tube C has no insulating material around it. What is this test tube for?

    o Fill all three test tubes with 20 mL water at approximately 800C.

    o Insert a thermometer in each test tube and begin recording the temperature as soon as possible
    after the water is added. Record the temperature every minute for 10 minutes. Record your results
    in Table 8.1 under 'Observations' below.

    o Graph your results.

    Part B: Effect of moisture on heat loss

    o Take four test tubes, each covered in cotton wool, and place in the four beakers. Label them 1, 2, 3
    and 4.

    o Spray the outside of test tubes 1 and 3 with warm water to ensure the cotton wool is moist.

    o Place test tubes 1 and 2 in front of a fan and keep test tubes 3 and 4 in an area without air
    movement.

    o Fill all four test tubes with 20 mL water at approximately 800C.

    o Insert a thermometer in each test tube and record the temperature as soon as possible after the
    water is added. Record the temperature every minute for 10 minutes. Record your results in Table
    8.2 under “Observations”.

    o Graph your results


    Table 4.1
    Test Tube Start 1min 2min 3 min 4 min 5 min 6 min 7 min 8 min 9 min 10 min
    A (Cotton wool)
    0C

    B (cardboard)
    0C

    C (no covering)
    0C

    Table 4.2
    Test Tube Start 1 min 2 min 3 min 4 min 5 min 6 min 7 min 8 min 9 min 10min
    1
    wet/fan
    2
    dry/fan
    3
    wet/still
    4
    dry/still
    4 marks (results table 2 marks, graphing 2 marks)
    Discussion questions
    1. Which test tube in Part A was the most effective at reducing heat loss? Can you suggest what
    makes this set-up the most effective at reducing heat loss? (1)

    2. What structural feature of mammals is the cotton wool simulating? (1)

    3. How can an insulating layer of air be achieved in mammals? (1)

    4. How can the results from test tube B be used to explain the observation that a cat looks larger on
    colder days than on hotter days? (1)

    5. Which test tube in Part B was the most effective at increasing heat loss? (1)

    6. Which part of the experiment modeled the role of perspiration in maintaining body temperature?
    Explain. (1)

    7. Based on your results, can you suggest why you tend to feel cooler on a hot windy day compared
    with a hot still day? (1)

    8. Taking into account your observations in this experiment, explain why panting in dogs is an
    effective way of losing body heat. (1)

    9. Were any experimental controls used in Part A and Part B of this investigation? If so, explain what
    these were. (1)

    10. Why are animals like frogs at greater risk of death on a windy, hot day? Explain, using your
    experimental results to support your answer. (1)

    11. Draw a diagram of a negative feedback model, using the examples of thermoregulation
    investigated in this experiment. Are all components of a feedback model completely demonstrated
    in this experimental setup? Explain your answer. (2)

    12. When the body temperature in mammals starts to drop, a number of things happen. Describe some
    of these, including both physiological and behavioral responses. Are any of these responses being
    modeled in this experimental set-up? Explain. (2)

    Conclusion:

    Make a statement in relation to the aim. (1)

    TOTAL MARKS: 20

    You might also like