When the snow started falling, the boys noticed

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the perception of temperature when touching snow compared to air at the same temperature. Participants explore the reasons behind why snow feels cooler to the touch than the surrounding air, focusing on heat transfer and sensory perception.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the sensation of heat or cold is related to the rate of heat transfer through the skin, with snow absorbing heat faster than air at the same temperature.
  • One participant explains that still air warms up next to the body, reducing the temperature difference and thus the rate of heat transfer, while wind increases heat loss.
  • Another participant notes that even when air temperature is lower than water temperature, immersion in water can lead to hypothermia more quickly due to heat transfer dynamics.
  • A later reply emphasizes that when touching an object, the sensation is based on the temperature of the finger rather than the object itself, with snow cooling the finger more rapidly than air.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the principles of heat transfer and sensory perception, but there are multiple perspectives on the specifics of how these principles apply to the sensation of cold when touching snow versus air.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss the concepts of heat transfer without resolving the underlying assumptions about temperature perception and the specific conditions affecting these sensations.

BakyX
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When the snow started falling, the boys noticed that the air in the night and snow had the same temperature. However, snow seemed to be cooler on touch...
State the reasons in detail, why it is like that.

Hello..Can someone help me with that ? It isn't homework..
 
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When you feel heat or cold what your body is actually feeling is the rate of heat transfer into or out of the body through the skin. Air requires a relatively small amount of heat to change it's temperature so if you stand still in still air the air right next to your body quickly warms up, this reduces the temperature difference and therefore the rate of heat transfer. If there is wind the warm air is constantly swept away and you feel colder because you are loosing heat faster. Ice or snow will absorb heat faster then air at the same temperature, since your body senses heat transfer instead of actual temperature this translates into feeling colder.

This is also why people are able to walk over hot coals. They may be over 1000 degrees F but they are very bad at transferring heat so your feet are able to absorb and despite the heat as fast as it is transferred without burning.
 
Thx so much..

"This is also why people are able to walk over hot coals. They may be over 1000 degrees F but they are very bad at transferring heat so your feet are able to absorb and despite the heat as fast as it is transferred without burning."

It's very interesting information. THX
 
Precisely... This is also why even when the surrounding air temperature might be lower than the temperature of water in a lake, you will still get hypothermia if you take a small dip rather than walk around.
 
BakyX said:
When the snow started falling, the boys noticed that the air in the night and snow had the same temperature. However, snow seemed to be cooler on touch...
State the reasons in detail, why it is like that.

Hello..Can someone help me with that ? It isn't homework..

Mr speedybob is right. When you touch something with your finger, you don't feel the temperature of what you touch, you feel the temperature of your finger. Air does not cool your finger down as fast or as much as snow, even tho they are both at the same temperature.
 

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