Ears of the Elephant
Science brain teasers require understanding of the physical or biological world and the laws that govern it.
Elephants have almost no predators and they feed on plants, so they don't need to hear all that well (neither to protect themselves or to find food). But why do they have such big ears?
HintElephants do NOT live in the Arctics.
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Answer
They're for regulating the body temperature. Since elephants have a large body mass compared to their skin surface they need the extra skin surface provided by the ears to regulate their internal heat (elephants are warm blooded animals). The ears are in fact radiators.
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Comments
randyeatmon
Oct 22, 2001
| This is more in the realm of Biology or "natural phenenomina" than Pysics. |
starman 
Nov 13, 2001
| There should be a general science category instead of just physics. You can learn a lot from an elephant. |
Don Ray
Dec 08, 2001
| They also landed a baby elephant a role in a Disney movie... |
phrebh  
May 27, 2005
| Even though the category has long since been renamed Science, it should be pointed out that all lesser sciences like biology and chemistry are really just physics on a smaller scale.  |
metallicman
Nov 14, 2005
| I liked it, gave me a cool lesson. Good teaser, I like an occasional teaching teaser. |
jntrcs
Apr 21, 2006
| for flying of course. havent u seen Dumbo |
Jerrythellama
May 21, 2006
| Partially for communication too. |
DEJL
Sep 22, 2006
| Interesting! A+  |
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