Emma Rice

Izagani Aquino
Alex Lozada

STEM ⅔
1/25/18

Homeostasis- Water Levels Research Article

Abstract:

Objective: The objective of this investigation was to greater explore the concept of homeostasis
in humans, more specifically how water levels are balanced in the body. Water levels between
active and inactive individuals determined via varying levels of exercise and urination were used
to test homeostasis.

Design: One group of students was used in this experiment, performing each specific part
together. On the first day of the study the group drank water, performed no form of physical
activity, and their resulting urine was observed. On the following day, the group exercised then
urinated, with the results from the previous dat also being compared to it.

Subjects: The groups consisted of three high school sophomores all aged sixteen, with one
individual in the group being a girl and the other two being boys.

Variables Measured: The variables measured were the levels of urine in millimeters, then
converted to ounces, measured after each part of the test each day, and the color of each sample
of urine that was collected.

Analysis: Analysis of the data was done by comparing the levels and color of the urine on the
non exercise days to the levels and color of the urine collected on days where the subjects
exercised. This data was also compared and interpreted to prior research found on the topic.

Results: The subjects in the experiment produced much more urine on exercise days than they
did on non exercise days. In addition to this, the color of the urine on non exercise days was
much clearer, while the urine produced after exercise leaned more towards being dark yellow in
hue. After careful consideration, it was determined that these results were achieved because more
water is used in the body during physical activity, so the body cannot release more water or else
it will move out of a correct balance. However, when an individual is at rest, he or she does not
use a large amount of water, thus making it necessary to expel more in order to maintain a
balance.

Implications: The findings of this experiment show that the human body is always actively
maintaining the homeostasis of water levels in the body, ensuring that enough water is present
for bodily functions. That being said, this experiment suggests the ideal times when larger
quantities of water should be consumed, namely when physical activity takes place. It is
important for individuals to be aware of the balance of water in the body as displayed here so
that they may be able to stay healthy.

Introduction:

Homeostasis is defined as the process by which an organism maintains a stable

environment. Homeostasis can be seen all throughout the world, specifically in humans. Things
such as blood pressure, blood sugar, and oxygen levels are all maintained using homeostasis, and
the human body does its best to achieve a balance of all of these things. The specific type of
homeostasis that was investigated in this lab was the balance of water levels in the human body.
Humans need water for everyday functions, and a specific amount of water must be maintained
at all times. Humans can gain water by drinking, and can expel it when there is an excess of it in
the body by doing things such as urinating. For example, when an individual is dehydrated, he or
she will drink more water and expel much less through urination (​Heyden, 2013)​. However if
there is a surplus of water in the body, there will be less need to drink water but a greater need to
urinate and theoretically in higher volumes (​Heyden, 2013)​. This happens because when water
enters the bloodstream and flows through the kidneys for filtration, extra water is expelled and
turned into urine, while needed water stays in the bloodstream. The hormone ADH is specifically
used to detect water levels and trigger the release of excess water (​Heyden, 2013)​. For the
experiment conducted in this lab, water levels observed in the urine of a human at rest were
compared to water levels in a human who had just exercised. This was done because an
individual doing physical activity needs to use more water than one at rest. Thus, in theory, the
person who had just exercised would have less urine than one who had been at rest. It was
hypothesized that after all steps of the procedure were carried out, if a human had just exercised,
then he or she would have less urine as compared to one who had not been involved in any
physical activity.
Purpose: ​The overarching purpose of this lab was to investigate homeostasis within the human
body, specifically pertaining to how it relates to water levels.

Hypothesis:
1) After all steps of the procedure have been carried out, if a human had just exercised, then
he or she would have less urine as compared to one who had not been involved in any
physical activity.
2) After all steps of the procedure have been carried out, if the test subjects drink water and
don’t exercise, then their urine will be light in color and plentiful.

Methods/Procedure:

Procedure: Part 1

1. Go to the gender appropriate bathroom

2. Empty yourself of any waste (solid and liquid)
3. Obtain 24 oz of ionized water
4. Immediately after using the bathroom, drink 24 oz of water
5. Go to standard track
6. Exercise by running for 15 minutes at your own pace
7. Wait 20 minutes after running has stopped
8. Go to bathroom after 20 minutes has passed
9. Urinate in measurement cup
10. Measure urine from cup
11. Record any observations or measurements

Procedure: Part 2

1. At least 5 hours after the exercise test, empty yourself of any waste (solid and liquid)
again
2. Obtain 24 oz of ionized water
3. Immediately after using the bathroom, drink 24 oz of water
4. Do not do any physical activity for 35 minutes
5. Go to bathroom after 35 minutes has passed
 6. Urinate in measurement cup
7. Measure urine from cup
8. Record any observations or measurements

Procedure: Part 3

1. Compare the measurements of the urine from the 2 tests in terms of measurements and
visual appearance

Results:

This graph compares the two test of exercising and drinking water, and not exercising while
drinking the same amount of water.
Observations Trial 1 (Not Exercising) Observations Trial 2 (Exercising)

Test subject #1: Test Subject #1:

- Mostly clear and not very yellow - More dark yellow than first time
- Decent amount (a lot) - Less than first time

Test Subject #2: Test Subject #2:

- Yellow - Darker
- Not a lot (less than expected) - Less than first time

Test Subject #3: Test Subject #3:

- Clear and slight yellow tint - Very yellow
- A lot of urine - Not as much
- Felt warmer

Discussion/Conclusion:

This data shows that when the subjects drank 24 oz of water and were not exercising,
their urine was light colored/clear and there was a lot expelled from their bodies. Then when the
subjects drank 24 oz of water and exercised, their urine was a dark yellow color and not very
much was expelled compared to the first trial. This also shows that less urine was expelled when
the subjects exercised, while more was expelled when they did not exercise.

This proves homeostasis because when the body is at a stable or healthy environment,
then when drenched with an excess amount of water the body will use minimal amounts and
expel more from the body. This was proved through the first trial of when the subjects did not
exercise and their bodies were able to maintain homeostasis more easily, hence they expelled
more urine in a lighter color. The second part of the experiment, trial 2, proved homeostasis
because when exerting energy and sweating the body is experiencing a decrease in water levels,
therefore the body uses more water that is drank. The test subject drank the given amount of
water (24 oz) and then exercised, and this exertion forced their bodies to use more of the water
they drank to maintain their homeostasis. This resulted in the test subjects have less urine
expelled and in darker color.

The first hypothesis was if the test subjects drink water and don’t exercise, then their
urine will be light in color and plentiful. The second hypothesis was if the test subjects exercise
after drinking water, then their urine will be dark in color and in small quantity. As you can see
in the test, when the test subjects drank water and didn't exercise, the urine was light in color and
plentiful, just like how the 1st hypothesis said, proving it right. The second hypothesis is also
correct because the test subjects drank water and then exercised, their urine was dark colored and
in small quantity. Therefore, both hypothesis are proved correct.

What went well in this lab was the testing and the designing/planning of the experiment.
While testing, everything went smoothly and swiftly which is helpful when on a deadline and
getting quick and accurate results. The planning of the experiment was also a success, because
the procedure and materials needed were clear and accurate, which once again allowed for
accurate testing and no wasted time.

Some errors in this experiment could include the participants did not exercise for a long
enough time. This would be an error because if the body was not sweating enough or losing
enough water then the results from this trial would have been negatively affected and unreliable.
Also, when measuring the urine there could have been some mathematical errors. To measure the
urine the test subjects were asked to mark their cups with a limit line of their waste, and then
empty it out to not cause any safety or health hazards in the classroom. The cups were then filled
with water in substitute and poured into a graduated cylinder, then converted to ounces. During
this lengthy process there very well could have been errors involved, whether mathematical or
misjudgment. One last error that could have occurred was that the test subjects did not wait long
enough in either trials to go to the bathroom. This would be an error because if they did not wait
long enough after drinking the water, the results or findings would be inconclusive since their
bodies could have needed more time to conduct homeostasis or retain the correct water levels.

Some investigations that this experiment leads to include:

➔ How long does it take subjects to use the bathroom after drinking a certain amount of
water? How regularly do they use the bathroom?
➔ If subjects are told to eat a bag of salted potato chips, how does the salt affect their water
levels?
➔ What is the ideal body water level to achieve homeostasis?
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2015. Web. 24 Jan. 2019

JamJarMMX. "GCSE Science Revision - Homeostasis - How Your Kidneys Control Water
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OpenStax. "Chapter 26. Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance." ​Introduction to Sociology –
1st Canadian Edition​. BCcampus, 06 Mar. 2013. Web. 24 Jan. 2019.

OpenStax. "Chapter 1. An Introduction to the Human Body." ​Introduction to Sociology – 1st

Canadian Edition.​ BCcampus, 06 Mar. 2013. Web. 24 Jan. 2019.