Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: rlopes on 01/08/2010 01:24:42

Title: Why do we get warmer when we hug someone?
Post by: rlopes on 01/08/2010 01:24:42

OK this may look very stupid, but I can't understand why it happens.

Let's say I hug someone and I'm warmer than that person at the moment. Theoretically, my body heat would be transferred to that person, until both our bodies reach the same temperature (so my own body would lose heat). Am I missing something?

Title: Why do we get warmer when we hug someone?
Post by: RD on 01/08/2010 03:54:22

Hugging reduces the surface area to volume ratio.
The volume of the bodies is constant but the body surfaces placed in contact with each other by hugging are no longer in contact with the air which cools by convection.