Question

How does the Arctic fox's thick fur coat help to keep the animal warm in the frigid Arctic conditions? (A) Fur is a good conductor of heat, so the fox absorbs heat from the surroundings. (B) The thick fur helps convection currents direct heat from the surroundings into the animal's skin. (C) Fur traps a layer of air next to the animal's body, which keeps it warm because air is a poor conductor of heat. (D) The white color of the fur reflects thermal radiation from the sun.

Short answer

The correct answer is (C): Fur traps a layer of air next to the animal's body, which keeps it warm because air is a poor conductor of heat.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the problem

First, we need to understand how the fox's fur coat helps it maintain warmth in cold conditions. We can do this by reviewing each option provided in the-question individually.

Evaluate Option A

Option A states that fur is a good conductor of heat and thus helps the fox absorb heat from the surroundings. When we think about thermal insulation, good conductors are not desirable since they transfer heat easily from one place to another. As the Arctic fox needs to maintain its body heat against cold temperatures, a good conductor would not be helpful in this situation. So, Option A is not the correct answer.

Evaluate Option B

Option B states that the thick fur helps convection currents direct heat from the surroundings into the animal's skin. Convection currents usually occur in fluids and gases, resulting from the motion and transfer of heat between the fluid or gas and its surroundings. Fur is not a fluid or a gas, so the creation of convection currents is not applicable here. Thus, Option B is not the correct answer.

Evaluate Option C

Option C states that fur traps a layer of air next to the animal's body, which keeps it warm because air is a poor conductor of heat. This explanation appears to make sense. The thick fur does create an insulating layer that can trap air, and the air adjacent to the body of the fox would be warmed by the animal's body heat. This warm air would then act as an insulating layer, helping to retain heat and maintain the body temperature of the fox. So, Option C is a plausible answer.

Evaluate Option D

Option D claims that the white color of the fur reflects thermal radiation from the sun. While it is true that white surfaces reflect more sunlight and can have some insulating properties, this would not be the primary reason the Arctic fox's fur keeps the animal warm. It could be an additional benefit, but the main insulation comes from the air trapped in the fur, as mentioned in Option C. Hence, Option D is not the correct answer.

Select the correct answer

After evaluating all the options, we can conclude that Option C is the correct answer, as it provides the most logical and scientifically accurate explanation for how the Arctic fox's thick fur coat helps to keep the animal warm in the frigid Arctic conditions. The fur traps a layer of air next to the animal's body, which keeps it warm because air is a poor conductor of heat.

Key concepts

Thermal Insulation

In the icy Arctic, survival depends on staying warm, and that’s where thermal insulation plays a vital role. The Arctic fox has a brilliant adaptation: its thick fur coat acts like a natural thermos. This fur doesn’t just provide a barrier between the animal and the harsh environment but is uniquely structured to trap air.

• Air, being a poor conductor of heat, does not transfer body heat to the outside as quickly as other materials would.
• The trapped layer of air close to the fox's skin is warmed by the animal's body heat, creating an insulating layer that hinders heat loss.

This mechanism is incredibly efficient in maintaining body temperature, even in freezing conditions. The fur essentially creates a micro-environment for the fox, helping it to conserve its own generated warmth.

Heat Conduction

To better understand thermal insulation, we must explore the concept of heat conduction. Heat conduction refers to the process where heat energy is transferred between substances that are in direct contact. Materials that are good conductors of heat, like metals, transfer heat quickly.
However, in the prevention of heat loss, poor conductors (insulators) are more beneficial. Arctic fox fur leverages this principle:

• The fur is made up of dense layers that trap air, and because air is a poor conductor, it slows the escape of body heat.
• The combination of fur density and air spaces makes it difficult for cold temperatures to penetrate through to the skin.

This is why proper insulation is critical; it significantly reduces the rate at which heat is conducted away from the body, keeping the fox warm in its frigid habitat.

Convection Currents

Convection currents are typically associated with fluids and gases, where warmer parts of the fluid rise while cooler parts sink, creating a flow that transfers heat. In the context of an Arctic fox, convection currents don’t play a significant role in warmth retention.

• The concept doesn’t apply because the animal’s fur is solid, not a fluid, thus, cannot facilitate convection.
• Instead, the goal is to minimize heat loss, which is effectively managed by trapping air within the fur’s fibers, not by the movement of air.

The Arctic fox relies on its fur’s insulating properties to keep warm, not on convection currents, showcasing nature’s clever design in adapting to cold climates without relying on this mechanism.