Aim
The aim of this investigation is to find the effect of size on temperature
loss in warm-blooded animals. I am going to investigate the relationship
between objects and the rate at which they loose heat. We will be using
beakers as containers to represent animals in this investigation.
Introduction
Warm-blooded animals have the ability to achieve homeostasis. One of the
properties of homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant temperature
irrespective of their environment. Cold-blooded animals on the other hand
maintain their body temperature by behavioural means. An example is a
cold-blooded creature going out to bask in the sun and taking shade when the
creature is too hot. Therefore warm-blooded animals have certain advantages
over cold-blooded animals: -
ç They can remain active all day.
ç They can survive in harsh environment.
The advantage of warm-blooded animals is that all these internal processes
that maintain the body temperature require a lot of energy.
This energy is
obtained from food. Warm-blooded animals eat up to ten times as much as
cold-blooded animals because their demands are greater.
Due to the reasons mentioned above, it is vital that warm-blooded animals
reduce heat loss. This can be achieved by;
ç Having the right size and shape
ç Physical means -
ç Insulation (hair trapping air & layers of fat)
ç Vasodilatation / vasoconstriction
ç Sweat production
ç Behavioural methods-
÷ Hibernating
÷ Increased movement
÷ Burrowing
÷ Seeking shade
÷ Wallowing
÷ Basking
As I recently found out, as the size increases the volume increases. The
larger the surface area/volume ratio the larger the heat loss. This is
because the molecules have less distance to travel and more surface area to
lose heat to.
Because of this, small organisms lose heat faster than larger one's. There
is also a relationship between...