Homeostasis investigations
For this project, we were tasked with learning how homeostasis works in our everyday lives, as well as testing different ways homeostasis affected us. We were put into different groups and each group chose one part of homeostasis to investigate. These investigations were heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, adrenaline levels, and temperature change.
My project: for this project my group and I had chosen the affect of temperature on homeostasis. Our experiment consisted of choosing one person to take their temperature in a room temp room, then they would go outside for five minutes. While they were outside we took the persons temperature at the two minute mark as well as the five minute mark. After about five minutes we took the person inside and we waited fifteen minutes to check the persons temperature in a room temp setting again. This experiment helped us analyze how the person's temperature changed from being outside and how homeostasis had affected it. Our hypothesis was If a person stands in the cold, then their body temperature will decrease first before homeostasis is restored. From all of our work and our evidence our hyptothesis proved true.
Content:
Homeostasis: stability within all physical systems needed for a body to function properly and survive in the changed environment.
Equilibrium- a period in which opposing influences are balanced.
Feedback mechanisms- a regulation system in your body that works to return the body to its normal internal state.
Positive feedback- end products of an action cause more of the action to occur in a feedback loop
Negative feedback- when a product of a reaction leads to a decrease in the reaction.
Experiment:
Hypothesis- an explanation made with little evidence (prediction) before you start that experiment. Your hypothesis can be proven correct or incorrect after gathering data.
Scientific method: This is the process used when conducting an experiment.
1) Ask a question
2) Do background research
3) construct a hypothesis
4) Test with an experiment
5) Analysis
6) communicate the results
Constant: a part of the experiment that stays the same when the experiment gets conducted.
Independent variable- a variable that does not change during the experiment.
Dependent variable- a variable that changes during the experiment
Control run: what you compare your results to.
Experimental run:the trials we do when conducting the experiment.
Reflection:
During this project I had worked with people I have never worked with before, and because of that we had some struggles communicating and talking to one another. Another issue I had was that I had gotten sick during our work time on this project for a week, so I missed all our experiments. My group had failed to inform me of what we were doing when I was absent as a result of our miscommunication. I also struggled with creative thinking as I feel I did not have the ability to do so in this project.
Some things that did work well for me was critical thinking. I was able to really think deeply of homeostasis as a whole, and what it really did for our bodies. I had never realized that homeostasis could affect our bodies in different ways which is what this experiment taught me. I was also able to write a CLEAR paragraph on this topic that I excelled at. Overall I would enjoy doing this project again.