Thermoregulation

Question 1

What is total heat content (of the body) determined by?

Answer 1

1) metabolic heat production

2) thermal flux (heat exchange) between animal & environment

Question 2

What are the major routes of heat exchange?

Answer 2

conduction, convection, radiation, and evaporation

Question 3

What is conduction? Describe flow and effects.

Answer 3

direct transfer of energy from one object to another

net energy flow always warmer –> cooler; thus may warm or cool body

Question 4

What is convection? Compare and contrast it to conduction.

Answer 4

transfer of energy between an object and a moving fluid

Question 5

What is radiation? What are sources of radiation and the effects?

Answer 5

energy transfer via emission or absoprtion of EM radiation

all objects emit EMR

body will emit radiant heat to surroundings = lose energy

body will absorb radiatn heat from surroundings (incl. solar) = gain energy

net result determines overall gain or loss

Question 6

What is evaporation?

Answer 6

evaporation of water moleculces from surface absorbs thermal energy; almost always a heat loss (i.e. cooling effect)

Question 7

What is conduction dependent on?

Answer 7

1) area of contact
2) temperature difference
3) thermal conductive properties