Arctic Series - Arctic Fox - STEM Challenge
Arctic Adaptation Experiment
Arctic foxes have several adaptations that allow them to survive the cold temperatures found in the Arctic. The defining feature of the Arctic fox is their deep, thick fur which allows them to maintain a consistent body temperature. But their round, compact bodies and short limbs, ears, and noses also help them conserve heat.
How do Arctic Foxes keep warm? Find out with this science demonstration.
The Experiment
Materials:
2 tall plastic soda bottles
A short and wide plastic container (with a larger diameter than the bottle)
Water at room temperature
A thermometer
A measuring cup
A scarf
A notebook
1. Collect all the materials needed for the experiment and a large container of room temperature water.
2. Fill a measuring cup with 1 ½ C of water and then pour the water into the tall plastic bottle.
3. Next, you want to pour the same amount of water into the short plastic container with the larger diameter.
4. Using a thermometer, record the temperature of the water in each container. Write down the results in a notebook.
5. Close the bottle and the container’s caps.
6. Place the containers of water outside (if it is cold out) or in the freezer. Wait 20 minutes. You can set a timer if you have one available.
7. In your notebook - hypothesize which container of water you think will be the coldest, and which one will be the warmest once you remove them from the cold.
8. After 20 minutes, use the thermometer to measure the temperature of the water in each container. Write down the results in your notebook.
9. Repeat this experiment with 2 bottles or containers exactly the same size. Cover one of the bottles with a scarf to represent an Arctic fox’s deep thick fur. Pour the same amount of water at room temperature into both bottles. Record the temperature once before and again after they have been in the cold/freezer for 20 minutes.
Record your results.
10. If you can, try the experiment again, covering one bottle with other materials that you can find in your house or in your classroom - for example: bubble wrap, construction paper, or a tea towel… which material do you think will act as the best insulation (fur coat)?
Data collection
Review your data
Calculate which bottle or container had the highest heat loss?
Calculate which bottle or container had the least amount of heat loss?
How can there be a temperature difference between the tall plastic bottle and the short plastic container when they have been in the cold for the same amount of time and have the same amount of water in them? How does this relate to the Arctic fox?
What happened when you put a scarf on a bottle?
Can you continue the experiment to make a line graph?
