Kitchen Science Experiments

The Naked Scientists: Science Radio & Science Podcasts

Garage Science from our Archive
Cello vibrations and how a violin bow works
 
Next Experiment:
Build a Lava lamp

Science from the Sporran

Watch Dr Otherford exploring the laws of physics and chemistry using whatever happens to be in his sporran...

To find more go to the Science from the Sporran webpage, or Subscribe via iTunes,Yahoo or Google

Kitchen Science RSS Feed

Strange Temperatures

Here is a way to entirely fool your senses using only three bowls of water. Have a go if you dare.

What you need

Bowls of WaterThree bowls or washing up basins large enough to put your hand in.

Warm water (NOTE - be careful not to make the water too hot!)

Cold water with a few ice cubes in it

Luke warm water

What to Do

Hands in different Bowls1 - Fill one bowl with warm water, one with iced water and one with medium water.

2 - Put one hand into the warm water and one in the iced water for one minute.

3 - Take your hands out of the water and put them both into the medium water. How does the water feel?


What may Happen

Hands in WaterWhen you put your hands into the medium temperature water, the hand that's been in the cold water feels warmer while the one that was in the warm water feels cold, even though they are both feeling water that is the same temperature.


What is going on?

It's because your senses are relative. They don't measure an absolute temperature or an absolute brightness of light; they make their measurements relative to the things around it. In the case of this experiment, the temperature sensors on your hands measure the temperature of the water relative to the temperature of your hand. If the water is warmer than your hand, it feels warm, and if it is colder than your hand, it feels cold.



Share this Experiment
Digg Thisfacebookdel.icio.usNetscapeRedditFarkStumbleuponNewsvineYahoo! My WebFurlMagnoliaSquidoo


Naked Scientists Science Radio Show HomeNaked Scientists Science Radio Show Home Who are The Naked ScientistsWho are The Naked Scientists Information about Naked ScientistsInformation about Naked Scientists
Naked Scientists PodcastNaked Scientists Podcast Ask the Naked Scientists PodcastAsk the Naked Scientists Podcast Question of the Week PodcastQuestion of the Week Podcast
Naked Science ArticlesNaked Science Articles Experiments to do at HomeExperiments to do at Home Science Discussion ForumScience Discussion Forum
Science News StoriesScience News Stories Answers to Science QuestionsAnswers to Science Questions Interviews with Famous ScientistsInterviews with Famous Scientists

Click here for the Naked Scientists PODCAST

The contents of this site are © The Naked Scientists® 2000-2009. The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks.