In science class, a nine-year-old is learning about how thermostats work. The teacher tells her that the furnace goes on when the temperature gets too cold, and then goes off when the temperature reaches a certain level. The student doesn't know it, but this operation is similar to the concept of

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The operation of a thermostat, which turns the furnace on and off to maintain a certain temperature, is similar to the concept of homeostasis. Homeostasis is the process by which living organisms regulate their internal environment to maintain a stable, constant condition, similar to how a thermostat maintains a stable temperature in a house.  Homeostasis is the maintenance of internal body equilibrium. When the body is low on energy, the hypothalamus stimulates the organism to find food. When the body's temperature drops, the hypothalamus causes blood vessel constriction or tiny involuntary movements (shivering) and motivates us to get warmer.

In Science Class, a Nine-Year-Old Is Learning About How Thermostats