Homeostasis: Body Temperature
Name: Andrea Silva Date: May 16th, 2014
Student Exploration: Homeostasis
Vocabulary: dehydration, heat stroke, homeostasis, hypothermia, thermoregulation
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
Homeostasis is the ability to maintain a stable environment inside the body. For example, your body does things to maintain constant blood sugar levels and body temperature.
1. What are some things you do to stay cool on a hot day? Some things I do to stay cool is to drink water, wear less clothes and turn the fan/ air conditioner on at the location I am at.
2. What can you do to warm up on a cold day? On a cold day, I can wear more clothes like a sweater, I can lit up the fire, I can drink hot chocolate, or I can cuddle with my pets.
3. What things does your body do automatically to cool down or warm up? In order to cool down, our body perspires. The sweat produced evaporates, as it cools down the body. In addition, the blood vessels near the skin get bigger to release the heat. This is also known as vasolidation. On the other hand, our body keeps warm by breaking down food molecules to release energy in the form of heat. The fat in the body acts as an insulator, helping the body to stay warm. In addition, hair found around the body acts a as a barrier to protect from the cold.
Gizmo Warm-up
The Homeostasis Gizmo™ shows a person on a treadmill. Notice the Air temperature and Body temperature thermometers.
1. What are these temperatures? Air: 20oC / 68oF Body: 37oC / 98.6oF
2. Click Play () and wait for a while. What happens to the body temperature? As the person stands on the treadmill, the body temperature remains the same. However, after two hours the body temperature lowers down and the person suffers from severe hypothermia.
3. Click the Run button and wait for a while. How does exercise affect body temperature? As the person exercises in the treadmill, the body temperature rises. After 19
Student Exploration: Homeostasis
Vocabulary: dehydration, heat stroke, homeostasis, hypothermia, thermoregulation
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
Homeostasis is the ability to maintain a stable environment inside the body. For example, your body does things to maintain constant blood sugar levels and body temperature.
1. What are some things you do to stay cool on a hot day? Some things I do to stay cool is to drink water, wear less clothes and turn the fan/ air conditioner on at the location I am at.
2. What can you do to warm up on a cold day? On a cold day, I can wear more clothes like a sweater, I can lit up the fire, I can drink hot chocolate, or I can cuddle with my pets.
3. What things does your body do automatically to cool down or warm up? In order to cool down, our body perspires. The sweat produced evaporates, as it cools down the body. In addition, the blood vessels near the skin get bigger to release the heat. This is also known as vasolidation. On the other hand, our body keeps warm by breaking down food molecules to release energy in the form of heat. The fat in the body acts as an insulator, helping the body to stay warm. In addition, hair found around the body acts a as a barrier to protect from the cold.
Gizmo Warm-up
The Homeostasis Gizmo™ shows a person on a treadmill. Notice the Air temperature and Body temperature thermometers.
1. What are these temperatures? Air: 20oC / 68oF Body: 37oC / 98.6oF
2. Click Play () and wait for a while. What happens to the body temperature? As the person stands on the treadmill, the body temperature remains the same. However, after two hours the body temperature lowers down and the person suffers from severe hypothermia.
3. Click the Run button and wait for a while. How does exercise affect body temperature? As the person exercises in the treadmill, the body temperature rises. After 19