Why does a specific temp feel different inside depending on the temp outside?

[CDrush]

If it's 20degrees outside and 68degrees inside it's warm when you come in from the cold. If it's 100degrees outside and 68bdegrees inside if feels cool. 68degrees is constant. Why does it feel different depending on the temp outside?

 

[hutchphd]

Partially physiology of blood flow and partially the physics of evaporation.

 

[CDrush]

Thanks. Makes sense

 

[DaveC426913]

Because "warm" and "cold" are both subjective (meaning only living critters can experience them) and contextual (meaning they are only meaningful relative to something else.).

 

[sysprog]

Half-fill 3 bowls with water, one warm, one cold, one lukewarm $-$ put one hand in hot and one in cold, wait a minute or so, then put both in lukewarm $-$ it'll feel cold to the hand from the warm bowl, and warm to the hand from the cold bowl $-$ great to see the the look on a kid's face when he's looking at both hands in the same bowl while they feel such different apparent temperatures.

 

[russ_watters]

Because "warm" and "cold" are both subjective (meaning only living critters can experience them) and contextual (meaning they are only meaningful relative to something else.).

...and when it comes to the physiology of what we feel, heat transfer rate matters a lot. So if your skin is cold (because you came in from the cold) and is being warmed-up, it feels warm. And vice versa.