STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY & ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
BIO 320 EXAM 2 PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS (100% PASS)
Describe all processes by which organisms exchange heat with their
environment. - Answer✔️✔️-Radiation, Conduction, Convection,
Evaporation
Radiation - Answer✔️✔️-*Emission of electromagnetic energy by
surface (i.e. sun)
*When objects are warmed by radiation, they emit lower-energy
radiation as infrared light
*The temp of the radiating surface determines how rapidly an object
loses energy by radiation to colder parts of the environment.
Conduction - Answer✔️✔️-*Transfer of kinetic energy of heat between
substances in contact (i.e. lizards lying flat on rocks to warm)
*Rate of heat movement depends on 1) surface area 2) resistance to
heat transfer 3) temp difference
*Greater surface area=greater surface for energy transfer (i.e.
animals curling up in ball for warmth)
Convection - Answer✔️✔️-*Transfer of heat by movement of liquids
and gases (Molecules of air or water next to warm surface gain
energy and move away from surface)*When environment is cold,
organism warms it's boundary layer which reduces heat loss but
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STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY & ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
current of air can disrupt layer and carry away heat by convection
(wind chill)
Evaporation - Answer✔️✔️-*Transformation of water from liquid to
gas using heat energy
*Removes heat=cooling effect on organism
*Plants transpire/Animals breathing makes water evaporate from
exposed gas exchange surfaces esp. in higher temp.
Homeotherms - Answer✔️✔️-Maintain constant temperature
conditions within the cells.
Poikilotherms - Answer✔️✔️-Does not have constant body
temperatures.
Ectotherms - Answer✔️✔️-*Body temp largely determined by external
environment
*Usually have low metabolic rates (reptiles, amphibians, plants,
insects- those that cant generate or retain heat to offset heat
loss)*Ectotherms adjust temp by altering behavior (moving in/out of
shade, etc)
Endotherms - Answer✔️✔️-*Generate enough metabolic heat to raise
body temp higher than external environment
*Most mammals/birds maintain body temp between 36°C-41°C,
despite surrounding temp. *Maintaining a higher body temp gives
them more energy for activity like find food and escape.
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