To investigate the effect of ‘huddling’ on temperature loss in a model animal

Tony Burge 04/11/2001

Science 1 Investigation

Task

To investigate the effect of ‘huddling’ on temperature loss in a model animal

Planning

Penguins and other animals in cold conditions often huddle together for warmth. I am going to do an investigation to see if this method is effective.

I will do this by testing the temperature of water from a test tube every minute for ten minutes and then test the temperature of the water from two test tubes in a huddle of seven, one from the middle and one from the edge.

I will make the test is fair by measuring out 10cm of water in each of the test tubes by using a beaker. I will also make sure, by using a thermometer, that it’s at an equal temperature at the start of the experiment. I will also repeat the investigation at least twice to make sure my results are conclusive.

Since I will be dealing with hot water I will have to be as careful as possible not to spill it. I will do this by keeping the test tubes in test tube racks when not in use.

Prediction

I predict that the test tube in the middle of the ‘huddle’ will stay at a higher temperature and that the lone test tube’s temperature will drop at a faster rate.

I think this will happen because:

Heat energy causes particles to vibrate more rapidly so extra kinetic energy in the ...

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Since I will be dealing with hot water I will have to be as careful as possible not to spill it. I will do this by keeping the test tubes in test tube racks when not in use.

Prediction

I predict that the test tube in the middle of the ‘huddle’ will stay at a higher temperature and that the lone test tube’s temperature will drop at a faster rate.

I think this will happen because:

Heat energy causes particles to vibrate more rapidly so extra kinetic energy in the particles will get dissipated to the surroundings.

The lone test tube is not insulated and because of this the heat loss will be greater. Where as the test tube in the middle of the ‘huddle’ will be insulated by the other six test tubes.

The heat radiation from the test tubes in the ‘huddle’ will keep the temperature from dropping as fast as the lone test tube will.

Results

The prediction, which I made before the experiment, proved to be correct in both the experiments that I carried out. The lone test tube cooled at a greater speed than the inside test tube and at the end of experiment 1 there is a difference of 10ºc which is clearly shown on the line of best fit graph.

The inside test tube’s temperature decreases at a fairly steady rate of 1ºc – 2ºc per minute. Where as the lone test tube doesn’t seem to follow a steady pattern and can decrease at the rate of 1ºc – 5ºc per minute.

So in conclusion I have found out that the ‘huddling’ of penguins and other animals is very effective for keeping heat in the bodies and stopping heat energy becoming dissipated to its surroundings.

Evaluation

I felt that my results were not completely reliable due to lack of equipment. I had planned on using a Bunsen Burner to heat my water to the correct temperature but had to use a kettle, which made it hard to get an equal starting temperature. Because of this I based my conclusion for experiment 1 on how many degrees Celsius the temperature would decrease per minute. After repeating the experiment with an equal starting temperature I feel that my results are conclusive.

Also, in experiment 1, there is a surprising rise in temperature that I have circled in yellow on my graph. This is probably due to my thermometer touching the side of the glass test tube. This doesn’t have an effect on my final conclusion as I did a second experiment.