Lab # 44: ESTIMATION OF THE AMOUNT OF HEAT RELEASED

FROM THE HUMAN BODY BY BREATHING

Heat, which is produced as a result of metabolism, is consumed by the body for endothermic
chemical reactions, mechanical work, electric energy and energy of electromagnetic waves. A
portion of the heat is conducted outside of the body through various routes. Heat release
constitutes a part of thermoregulatory processes and is a fundamental factor in the
maintenance of an optimal temperature of the system.
Heat energy balance for an average human body is shown below.

Energy intake
Total
Food taken as g kJ kJ
proteins 57,8 992
fats 140,5 5472 7867
carbohydrates 81,7 1403

Energy expenditure
Total
Manners of heat release kJ kJ
Heat:
- emitted from the body surface 5753
- emitted with breathed air 180
- excreted with urine and feces 96 7783
- used for water evaporation through lungs 758
- used for water evaporation through the skin 950
Correction 46

The difference between the total heat intake and expenditure results from the measurement
inaccuracy.
Heat emitted from the body is determined with the following methods:
- direct calorimetry: this method is based on placing a human or an animal in a properly
prepared calorimeter,
- indirect calorimetry: this method is based on gas exchange estimation.
Methods mentioned above give the consistent results within the required degree of accuracy.
In this exercise we will focus on the heat released during respiration.
ATTENTION!!! FIRST COMPLETE THE EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES AND THEN
START CALCULATIONS!

1
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
1. Weigh the internal calorimeter container no. 1 (mc1) and internal calorimeter container
no. 2 (mc2) .
2. Fill the red container no. 3 with the pieces of ice and put it into the calorimeter no. 1.
Place all in the external container and close with the cover. Put the hose with the
mouthpiece on the protruding part of the container tube. Set the time to 15 min. and
wait.
3. After 15 min. replace quickly the internal calorimeter container no. 1 with the
container no. 2 and breathe out the air through the hose into the calorimeter during 15
min. Try to breathe as naturally as possible and pay attention to breathe out all of the
air directly into the calorimeter. When you finish, remove the container with the
remaining ice.
4. Weigh the container no. 1 with water (mcw1).
5. Calculate the mass of water (mw1) obtained from ice melted in ambient (room)
temperature.
6. Weigh the container no. 2 with water (mcw2).
7. Calculate the mass of water (mw2) obtained while breathing out the air into the
calorimeter.
8. Calculate the mass of water (mw) produced from ice melted by the exhaled air during
its cooling to the melting temperature of ice (t0 = 0 °C).

mw  mw2  m1w  mwp  (1)
where:
mwp – mass of water obtained after the condensation of vapor from the exhaled air;
mwp = 5 g
9. Read the room temperature on the thermometer and write it down as the ambient
temperature ta.
10. Knowing mw calculate the total heat lost Q0
Q0  m w  L (2)
where:
L – heat of ice fusion; L = 335 × 103 J/kg


Q0  mw2  m1w  mwp  L 
(3)

2
 11. Q0 it is the amount of heat which the organism would lose during respiration if the
temperature of exhaled air was 0 °C. Since the experiment takes place at room
temperature, the total heat lost during respiration at room temperature (Q) must be
calculated using the following proportion
tb  t a
Q  Q0 (4)
tb  t0

where:
tb – body temperature; tb = 36,6 °C
ta – ambient temperature (room temperature)
t0 – 0 °C

Summarize the results in the following tables:

[g] [kg]
1
mc
mcw1
mw 1

mc 2
mcw2
mw 2

mwp mw ta Q0 Q
[kg] [kg] [C] [J] [J]

The report should include:

1. In the header of the report: student’s name and surname, program of study (6MD,
5DMD or MDA), Dean’s group number, experiment date, lab number and title.
2. Measurement tables.
3. Formulas, substitutions, calculation results.
4. Results given in SI units.
5. Conclusions.