Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Dus¡an on 10/12/2009 09:30:02
-
Dus¡an asked the Naked Scientists:
Good afternoon Doctor Chris,
Â
Why is water and steel (and other things) cooler than surrounding air?
Thanks for your answer and point of view and for all the programmes (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/) on Thenakedscientists. It is incredible how great your scope of knowledge is!
Â
PS: I like your voice and clear accent, as well as Helen's and Kat's. On the web, you are the best programmes to listen to (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/)!
I vote for you and cross my fingers for your successful future.
Â
Dus¡an, Czech
What do you think?
-
I think this is just a result of the fact that water and steel conduct heat better than air, and so conduct the heat away from your hand. As a result, they feel cooler. Something that insulates well, say wood or expanded polystyrine, should feel as warm as the air.
-
Indeed. Try this experiment, if steel is colder than air it should keep ice cooler for longer. Put one ice cube on a steel pan and one on a wooden chopping board or something, and see which one melts faster. I think that was done on kitchen science?
-
... Put one ice cube on a steel pan and one on a wooden chopping board or something, and see which one melts faster.
I think that was done on kitchen science?
50x Speeded up kitchen science video comparison of ice on metal frying pan and ice on wooden chopping board. (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/typo3conf/ext/naksci_images/OSFLV-player2/player.swf?movie=/HTML/uploads/tx_naksciimages/icecube.flv&autoload=off&volume=70&preview=/HTML/uploads/tx_naksciimages/icecube.jpg)
-
It would be very useful if steel plates really were cooler than the surrounding air I could use it to power my Sterling engine generator to run the lights.