Rate of Temperature Change in Spherical Clay Models Using Various Surface Area to Volume Ratios

Krissy Grant, Adrienne Bentley, Michael Cansler, Dylan Hargus, Sam Kimbrough

Abstract


This experiment evaluates the effect of surface area-to-volume ratio on thermoregulation, specifically heat retention. It has been observed that animals with a tendency to retain heat are usually more compact and voluminous, indicating a larger surface area-to-volume ratio. Whereas animals with smaller surface area-to-volume ratios lose heat quickly. In this experiment, spherical clay models were used in place of real animals, with results still applicable to live organisms. Temperature was determined by heating clay models on a heating pad, for an allotted time. This produced results that indicated a direct trend relating a larger surface area-to-volume ratio to a larger heat retention.


Keywords


clay, surface area, volume, heat retention

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References


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Investigations, 2(1), 1-3. Retrieved September 15, 2017


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