Biology 2601A/B Lecture : organismal phys
Document Summary
Temperature is the measure of the speed or intensity of random motions that atoms and molecules undergo. The temperature of a substance is proportional to the product of the mean square speed of the random molecular motions and the molecular mass. Temperature is the intensity of motion by the atoms in the object. Heat is the amount of energy in the object. The amount of heat is dependent on mass (how much of object there is). Temperature determines the direction of heat transfer (from warm to cool). Most of life is found between 0 c - 100 c. The developmental threshold for many insects and plants is at 15 c. Endotherms: generate internal heat that is retained in the body. Ectotherms: rely on external temperatures to determine tb. Heterotherms: have more than one temperature set point, or switch between homeo- and. Poikilotherms: allow body temperature to vary (ex. cold-blooded animals). poikilothermy (ex. hibernating mammals).