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december winter toasties

This month's quiz is all about the Decembery business of keeping warm, and why you should!

If you're on fire with your answers, you stand to win one of four fake furry (not green) polar bear hot water bottles to snuggle up to on a bleak mid winter's night. Hmmm.

Wishing you a high degree of success, warmest regards...

Click here for the answers...

01
 A polar bear's fur is made of hollow, transparent hair tubes. This makes them appear white, like a cloud made of transparent water droplets. These have been a number of times when polar bears in zoos have turned green - why was this?
Green algae grew in their hair
They became jealous that the penguins were getting more food
They reacted with the copper in the zoo water

02
 At temperatures as low as -60C, how do Emperor penguins keep their eggs warm?
The males carry them on top of their feet, uder a fold of skin and stand in huddles
The eggs are kept in a warm water bath made of melted ice
Each egg comes out with its own form of fur coat

03
 What mammal lives further south than any other?
The Weddell seal
The Adelie penguin
The polar bear

04
 When we are cold, muscles attached to the base of our body hairs pull tight to make the hair stand up, providing a thin layer of warmer air around the body. What is this effect normally known as?
Chicken wings
Goose bumps
Duck feet

05
 Recent research has shown that if you allow yourself to get cold you are more likely to develop a common cold. Why is this?
Coldness reduces the flow of blood - and white blood cells - to the nose. This reduces the body's defences to the virus
A cold virus is more attracted to a person with a lower body temperature
Cold virus can only survive at temperatures a few degrees below body temperature

06
 Which uncovered body part loses the most heat?
Hands
Bottom
Head

07
 Is a cloudy night likely to be warmer or colder than a non-cloudy night?
Warmer - clouds stop heat from escaping into space
Colder - the Moon provides about half as much heat as the Sun does
There is no difference - clouds have no effect on surface temperature

08
 The UK has warmer and milder winters than its northerly position can explain because of what natural phenomenon?
The Gulf Stream - warm water flowing across the Atlantic from Mexico
The Aurora Borealis - the northern lights
Lunar eclipses

09
 A Tog is a measure of thermal resistance - just how insulating something is. What normally comes with a Tog rating?
A duvet
A fridge
An electric heater

10
 How does a thermos flask keep a hot drink hot on a cold day?
It has a special internal heating system powered by batteries
It prevents conduction, convection and radiation of heat with its silvered sides and vacuum
It works like an inside out fridge, which is why they are very cold to pick up

Answers

1= Green algae grew in their hair • 2= The males carry them on top of their feet • 3= The Weddell seal • 4= Goose bumps • 5= Coldness reduces the flow of blood & white blood cells to the nose • 6= Head • 7= Warmer • 8= The Gulf Stream • 9= A duvet • 10= It prevents conduction, convection & radiation of heat

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