Let’s Learn About Blubber
How do animals stay warm in icy habitats?
Goal:
Goal:
The water in the Arctic and Antarctica is icy cold, even frozen
on top. Animals swim in these waters anyway, and the cold does
not seem to bother them. In fact, they like it this way!
Animals such as whales, walruses, and polar bears have a
protective coat of fat under their skin called blubber. Blubber
works as insulation and keeps them warm, so they do not feel the
icy cold when they swim.
Let’s do an experiment to learn more about blubber. Make sure
you have an adult with you.
Here's what you'll need:
-
mixing bowl
-
water and ice
-
2 resealable bags
-
shortening
Step 1
Fill a bowl with water and ice.
Step 2
In one resealable bag, place at least one cup of shortening.
Step 3
Place your hand in another resealable bag that is inside out.
Step 4
Put the hand covered with the bag inside the bag with
the shortening.
The shortening is like the blubber of a
walrus. Make sure the shortening is not touching your
hand, but it is surrounding your hand inside the second
bag.
Zip the two bags together. Your hand should now be
covered by the shortening, but not touching it.
Step 5
Feel the icy water inside the bowl first with your
uncovered hand. It gets freezing cold very quickly!
Now,
feel the icy water with your hand that is covered by
shortening (or blubber). What do you observe?
Question
What happens when you put your hand surrounded by the shortening in the icy water?
The shortening is like blubber animals have. It keeps your hand warmer because the layer of fat keeps the cold out and your body heat in.