How do polar bears keep warm in the cold?

Answer 1

Two of the physical adaptations that help polar bears stay warm in cold climates are the fact that their fur is translucent and their skin is black. That's right! Fur that is translucent and skin that is black!

Lets discuss this!

Polar Bear fur is not white. They have so much fur so close together per square centimeter that when you look at it it only looks white. If you actually took one of the polar bears fur and held it up to a light or under a microscope that the light will more or less shine through it.

Now why is the fur translucent? That relates to the fact that the radiant light energy of the sun need to penetrate to the black skin of the polar bear to keep the the animal warm in cold climate conditions.

The second part of the answer to the question relates to the fact that the skin of a polar bear is black. As you know on a hot day if you touch the an item that is black or dark in colour that it will be significantly warmer than a light coloured item. If you have never observed this, next time you see a dark coloured car and a light coloured car walk up to them and touch their surfaces. You will observe that the dark coloured car is actually warmer than the light coloured car. The reason for this is because dark items absorb more of the sun's energy and light items reflect more of the energy.

The same holds true for our polar bears' skin. When the sun's energy penetrates the translucent hairs of the polar bear the sun's energy strikes the skin and the absorbed energy will help the polar bear stay warm in cold climate conditions of the arctic.

Answer 2

Their fur keeps them warm and they also have a layer of fat underneath their skin to help keep warm.

Did you know that they actually feel hot more than they of freeze? Crazy but true.