Activity 8.1.1 Vital Signs: TemperatureIntroduction

Vital signs are measurements of the body’s most basic functions and are useful in detecting or monitoring medical problems. The four main vital signs include body temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure. You probably have your vital signs measured when you visit the doctor or other medical professional. The values of your vital signs act as clues that can be used to diagnose an illness or disease.

Normal body temperature for a healthy adult can range from 97.8º Fahrenheit to 99.0º Fahrenheit. This is equivalent to 36.5º Celsius to 37.2º Celsius. A body temperature below 95º F signals hypothermia, whereas hyperthermia or fever is a body temperature that is above 99.5ºF measured orally. Body temperature may change throughout the day and is usually highest in the evening. Other factors such as exercise, strong emotion, eating, heavy clothing, and high humidity can also increase body temperature.

Fever is a result of the body fighting an infection. Most bacteria and viruses that cause infections in humans will not survive in an environment warmer than 99ºF. Therefore, a fever is the body’s way of attacking a bacteria or virus that has infected an individual and signals that an infection may be present. The severity of the illness is not directly related to the degree of the fever. For example, a child may experience a high fever with a common cold and little or no fever with pneumonia which is a much more serious illness.

In this activity you will measure the temperature of the palm of your hand and the palm temperatures of your teammates. You will also get to know the Vernier Logger Lite® software and temperature probe.

This activity has been adapted from A Hot Hand experiment by Vernier.

Equipment Laboratory Journal Pencil Computer with Vernier Logger Lite® software Vernier Go!Temp Temperature Probe Beaker Water Paper towel

Procedure

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1. Connect the Go!Temp temperature probe to the computer.

2. Open the data collection software program Logger Lite® and open the file “01 A Hot Hand” from the Middle School Science with Vernier folder.

3. Measure the temperature of the palm of your hand.

a. Click Collect to begin data collection. This is a green button at the top right side of the screen.

b. Pick up the Temperature Probe and hold its tip in the palm of your hand as shown in Figure 1. Data collection will end when 60 seconds have gone by.

4. Record your maximum temperature.

a. Click the Statistics button . The statistics box will appear on the graph, displaying several statistical values for the data, including the minimum and maximum temperatures recorded during the collection period.

b. In your data table, record the maximum temperature.

c. Close the Statistics box.

d. Choose Store Latest Run from the Experiment menu to store your data.

5. Prepare the Temperature Probe for the next run.

a. Cool the Temperature Probe by placing it into a beaker of room-temperature water until its temperature reaches the temperature of the water. The temperature of the probe is displayed in the meter.

b. Use a paper towel to dry the probe. Be careful not to warm the probe as you dry it.

6. Repeat Steps 3-5 for each person on your team. However, when you repeat the steps, after clicking the Statistics button, choose Latest: Temperature as the run for which you want the statistics. Then click OK to view the statistics for the latest run. Do not choose Store Latest Run after the last run.

7. Print copies of the graph as directed by your teacher.

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8. Fill in the data table below and calculate the average maximum temperature for your team.

Student Name Maximum Temperature

ºC

ºC

ºC

ºC

Team Average ºC

Conclusion

1. How did the maximum temperatures of your teammates compare?

2. Who had the hottest maximum temperature?

3. What do you think accounts for the differences between your teammates?

4. Why was your maximum temperature not 98.6º F (37º C)?

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