Question 1: Define homeostasis and explain its importance in maintaining body temperature.

Answer: Homeostasis is the process by which the body maintains a stable internal environment, including temperature, to ensure proper functioning of cells and organs.

Question 2: Describe the role of the hypothalamus in regulating body temperature.

Answer: The hypothalamus detects changes in body temperature and triggers responses like sweating or shivering to restore normal temperature.

Question 3: Which of the following is a response of the body when it overheats?

Answer: Sweating

Question 4: Fill in the blank: When the body is cold, blood vessels near the skin ______ to conserve heat.

Answer: vasoconstrict

Question 5: Explain how sweating helps to cool the body down.

Answer: Sweating releases moisture on the skin. When the sweat evaporates, it absorbs heat from the body, cooling it down.

Question 6: Calculate the heat loss if a person with a body surface area of 1.8 m² loses heat at a rate of 50 Watts. Show your working and give the answer in calories per hour. (1 Watt = 0.239 calories/sec)

Answer: Heat loss in calories per hour = 50 Watts x 3600 seconds x 0.239 calories/sec = 50 x 3600 x 0.239 = 43,020 calories per hour.

Question 7: Design a simple experiment to test the effect of temperature on the rate of sweating in humans. Include variables, controls, and safety precautions (theory only).

Answer: Participants would be exposed to different controlled temperatures in a laboratory setting. The independent variable is the temperature; the dependent variable is the rate of sweating. Controls include hydration level and clothing. Safety precautions involve monitoring for heat exhaustion, ensuring proper hydration, and avoiding extreme temperatures.

Question 8: A person’s core body temperature is measured as 38°C. What does this indicate about their condition, and what responses might the body initiate?

Answer: A core temperature of 38°C indicates a fever, which may trigger responses like sweating and vasodilation to cool the body and fight infection.

Question 9: Describe how vasodilation helps lower body temperature during hot conditions.

Answer: Vasodilation is the widening of blood vessels near the skin surface, which increases blood flow and allows more heat to escape, cooling the body.

Question 10: In what ways does clothing affect body temperature regulation?

Answer: Clothing can insulate the body, trapping heat in cold weather, or reflect heat and allow heat to escape in hot weather, affecting how the body maintains its temperature.

Question 11: Explain how technology, such as thermostats, is used to maintain a stable temperature in buildings and how this relates to homeostasis.

Answer: Thermostats detect temperature changes and automatically activate heating or cooling systems to maintain a set temperature, similar to how the hypothalamus regulates body temperature through responses like sweating or shivering, ensuring a stable internal environment.