How May the Physical

Exertion Impact the Body

Temperature
Name: Sara Mohamed
Class: MYP 4B

Unit: Homeostasis maestro

Key Concept: Change
Global context: Identities and relationships
Statement of inquiry: By using analysis and argument we can
achieved balanced between different systems according to their
functions and interactions.

1
Temperature is a unit of measurement of coldness and warmth of
weather, object, or the body, temperature is usually detected by a
thermometer and expressed in: The Fahrenheit (°F), Celsius (°C),
Kelvin (K) (temperature, n.d.)
The average temperature for a normal human body ranges from (36.1oC
-37.2oC) based on different factors such as; age, gender, time of the
day, physical exertion, stress, smoking, weight, meals, room temperature, and
type of food. (Runar, 2019) (Does Weight Affect Your Body Temperature?, 2019)
Factors affecting the body temperature.
The average temperature for a normal human body ranges from (36.1oC -37.2oC)
based on different factors such as; age, gender, time of the day, physical
exertion, stress, smoking, weight, meals, room temperature, and type of food.
(Runar, 2019) (Does Weight Affect Your Body Temperature?, 2019)
Age: As getting older, the ability to regulate the body temperature begins to
decrease; as age increases, the body temperature decrease. (Runar, 2019) (Does the body
temperature change in older people?, n.d.)
Physical exertion: During physical activity, the body generates large amounts of
heat that causes rising in its temperature. (Runar, 2019)
Stress: When being stressed, hormones such as Adrenaline produces hormones
that increase the body temperature. (Runar, 2019)
Smoking: By inhaling smoke, the lung's temperature raises, resulting in increasing
the body temperature. (Runar, 2019) (10 Interesting Facts About Body Temperature, 2016)
Time of the day: The body temperature is at its lowest before you wake and its
highest an hour or two before sleeping. (Runar, 2019)
Meals: The body temperature is usually higher after eating for 20-30 minutes due
to the increase in the metabolic rate. (Runar, 2019)
Gender: Temperatures of the males’ bodies are usually higher than females, as
they have more muscles generating heat that increases their temperature. (Runar, 2019)
(Nicole, 2018)
Weight: As weight decreases, the metabolism decreases, that causes a decrease in
the temperature and vice versa. (Does Weight Affect Your Body Temperature?, 2019)
Room temperature: As the room temperature increases, the body temperature
increases and vice versa.
Type of food: Some types of food are known for their heat production as they
require more energy for the digestion process in the body such as: bananas,
chicken, eggs, oranges, peaches, etc.

2
Problem:
Dan likes doing sports, he does exercises daily and goes to the gym twice a week,
lately, he began to notice that he is feeling warmer after doing exercises, and asked
“Why do I feel warmer when doing exercises?”
Hypothesis:
During physical activity, the body generates large amounts of heat that causes
rising in its temperature; 20% of the energy generated from the contracted muscles
is used for the muscle contractions, while the rest 80% is converted to heat energy
that results in rising the body temperature and feeling warmer. (Okazaki, 2018)

A simple experiment could be done to observe the impact of physical exertion on

the body temperature; a person would be physically exerted for 30 minutes:
measure his body temperature 5 minutes before the physical exertion, 5 minutes
after beginning the physical exertion, then 15 minutes after beginning the physical
exertion, then directly after the physical exertion, and lastly 10 minutes after the
physical exertion.

3
 Variables:

Depended In depended controlled

Temperature; it Physical exertion; it affects Age; as the body temperature decreases. Age would
depends on the the body temperature, be controlled at 14
physical exertion, when doing exercise, the
when doing body produces heat that
exercise, the body causes rising in its
produces heat that temperature.
causes rising in The time of physical
its temperature. exertion would be 30 mins.
The physical activity
would be running

Gender; Males are having more muscles generating

heat that increases their temperature, the gender
controlled would be female.
Weight; as weight decreases, the metabolism
decreases, that causes a decrease in the temperature
and vice versa. The weight controlled would be
57kg

Time of the day; the body temperature is at its

lowest before you wake and its highest an hour or
two before sleeping. The time controlled would be
10:00 PM

Meals; The body temperature is usually higher after

eating for 20-30 minutes due to the increase in the
metabolic rate. The temperature would be measured
4 hours after eating.

Room temperature; as the room temperature

increases, the body temperature increases and vice
versa. The room temperature would be controlled at
24oC.

Type of food; some types of food are known for

their heat production as they require more energy
for the digestion process in the body such as:
bananas, chicken, eggs, oranges, peaches, etc. The
food controlled would be a vegetable salad.

4
 5 mins before 5 mins from 15 minutes Directly after 10 mins after
the physical beginning the from the physical the physical
exertion physical beginning the exertion exertion
exertion physical
exertion
Trail 1

Trail 2

Trial 3

Trial 4

Trial 5

Average

5
 Experiment

Aim:
To observe the impact of physical exertion on the body temperature
Materials:
• A thermometer; to measure the body temperature.
• Bottle of water; as the sweating rate increases, the need for drinking water
will increase.
•
Safety:
• Open area: As the respiration rate increases, the need for inhaling more
oxygen will increase.
• Bottle of water: As the sweating rate increases, the need for drinking water
will increase.
Method:
• Measure the body temperature 5 mins before beginning the physical
exertion.
• Measure the body temperature 5 mins from beginning the physical exertion.
• Measure the body temperature 15 mins from beginning the physical
exertion.
• Measure the body temperature directly after the physical exertion.
• Measure the body temperature 10 mins after the physical exertion.
• Try the same experiment 5 times to be sure the measures are valid.

6
Collecting data:
5 mins before 5 mins from 15 minutes Directly after 10 mins after
the physical beginning the from the physical the physical
exertion physical beginning the exertion exertion
exertion physical
(A) (B) exertion (D) (E)
(C)
Trail 1 36.2oC 36.5oC 36.8oC 37.1oC 36.5oC

Trail 2 36.2oC 36.6oC 36.9oC 37.2oC 36.3oC

Trial 3 36.3oC 36.4oC 36.6oC 37oC 36.4oC

Trial 4 36.2oC 36.4oC 36.8oC 37.2oC 36.2oC

Trial 5 36.3oC 36.5oC 36.7oC 37.3oC 36.3oC

Average 36.2oC 36.5oC 36.8oC 37.2oC 36.3oC

Presenting data:
37.4

37.2

37

36.8

36.6

36.4 Series1

36.2

36

35.8

35.6
A B C D E

7
 37.4

37.2

37

36.8

36.6

36.4 Series1

36.2

36

35.8

35.6
A B C D E

Interpreting data:
From the given data, it is obvious that the body temperature was at its lowest
before the physical exertion; as the average was 36.2oC, it began to rise by the
beginning of the physical exertion with average 36.5oC, and 36.8oC by the middle
of the physical exertion. The body temperature reached its peak by the end of the
physical exertion with average 37.2oC, and went back to its normal temperature 10
minutes after the physical exertion with average 36.3oC.
Evaluating hypothesis:
It is obvious that the hypothesis is right, during physical activity, the body
generates large amounts of heat that causes rising in its temperature; 20% of the
energy generated from the contracted muscles is used for the muscle contractions,
while the rest 80% is converted to heat energy that results in rising the body
temperature and feeling warmer.
Evaluating method:
The method was right; a person was physically exerted for 30 minutes and the
body temperature was measured 5 minutes before the physical exertion, 5 minutes
after beginning the physical exertion, 15 minutes after beginning the physical
exertion, directly after the physical exertion, and lastly 10 minutes after the
physical exertion.

8
Improvements:
• More trials would be done to be more accurate in results.
• The body temperature would be measured after different periods of physical
exertion.

Resources
10 Interesting Facts About Body Temperature. (2016, 9 8). Retrieved from The Active Times:
https://www.theactivetimes.com/fitness/10-interesting-facts-about-body-temperature

Does the body temperature change in older people? (n.d.). Retrieved from National library of medicine:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18705705/

Does Weight Affect Your Body Temperature? (2019, 12 12). Retrieved from Modius:
https://us.modiushealth.com/blogs/news/does-weight-affect-your-body-temperature

Nicole. (2018, 8 14). Body Temperature and How It Differs for Men and Women. Retrieved from
Healthylife: https://www.simplysupplements.co.uk/healthylife/general-health/body-
temperature-how-it-differs-for-men-and-women

Okazaki, R. T. (2018, 2 5). Body Temperature Regulation During Exercise and Hyperthermia in Diabetics.
Retrieved from intechopen: https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/59169

Runar. (2019, 11 26). 8 Factors that influence your body temperature. Retrieved from Onio:
https://www.onio.com/article/factors-that-influence-your-body-temperature.html

temperature. (n.d.). Retrieved from Britanicca: https://www.britannica.com/science/temperature