Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: katieHaylor on 25/07/2017 10:15:28

Title: Will a sheet dry faster if hung on one washing line, or across several?
Post by: katieHaylor on 25/07/2017 10:15:28

David asks:

What's the quicker way of drying a sheet - hanging it on just one washing line, or draping it over several lines?

What do you think?

Title: Re: Will a sheet dry faster if hung on one washing line, or across several?
Post by: alancalverd on 25/07/2017 11:16:08

It all depends on the weather!

On a cloudy day you want to get maximum airflow over the surface, and this is usually best done by hanging vertically and edge-on to the wind. Look at your nearest airport and arrange one clothesline parallel to its longest runway (the prevailing wind direction - usually E-W in the UK) and if possible another parallel to the number 2 runway (usually NNE-SSW in the UK)

The sun will heat the upper surface of a horizontal sheet but evaporation from the lower surface will be poor unless the wind blows.