Observations and results
When you dunked your fingers in the ice-cold water, did the finger covered in shortening stay warm longer than the finger that was not covered? Was there not as large a time difference when you put your fingers in the warm water?
Mammals that have adapted to live in cold waters—such as polar bears and whales—can stay warm largely because of their blubber, a thick layer of blubber. The blubber is evenly spread over much of their body, just as the shortening in this activity covered the surface of your finger in a thick layer. Since adipose tissue has a relatively low thermal conductivity, it does not transfer heat well compared to other tissues and materials. Humans have developed some insulating materials for our own daily use. For example, Styrofoam is another material that does not conduct heat relatively well, whereas metals conduct heat very well. This is why hot drinks are often served in Styrofoam, since it keeps the heat inside the cup, thus preventing your hands from being burned. (For the same reason, it can also keep cold drinks cool longer than, for example, a paper cup.) What other materials can you think of that work as insulators?
More to explore
Sink or Swim: Muscle versus Fat from Scientific American
Blubber from National Geographic Education
Is Muscle a Better Insulator than Fat in Cold and Heat? from MadSci
What Are You Blubbering About? from Science Buddies
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2 Comments
Add CommentSo what's the difference between blubber and regular fat that other mammals have? I've heard that blubber is attached to the skin, while regular fat is not (like in cats and dogs), which raises the question, do humans actually have blubber?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisbfahrn-oldgirl:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisgood question, fercanyon. And do fat people who have a lot of stored fat keep warmer?
I think human animals were programmed in hot places to lose fat, lose hair, go naked. But why over 000+++000 years migrating north all we species can do is kill/rob animals for their fur, feathers, woolies, etc? or manufacture something like them?