• Question: Why is a polar bear fat?

    Asked by qwantumfisixlver101 to Arttu, Ceri, James_M, Monica, Philip on 15 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: James M Monk

      James M Monk answered on 13 Jun 2011:

      because it ate all the pies!

      No, wait, it’s because the surface area to volume ratio is smaller for fatter animals. In cold environments a small surface area is helpful because the animal will lose less heat through a small surface area, while the larger volume allows it to generate more heat internally.

    • Photo: Arttu Rajantie

      Arttu Rajantie answered on 15 Jun 2011:

      The fat layer is excellent thermal insulation, and unlike fur it also works in water so polar bears can swim in icy water.

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