A piece of wood absorbs more heat than shiny metal when exposed to sunlight, but the wood feels cooler to the touch due to its lower thermal conductivity. Metal reflects more light and has a higher heat transfer coefficient, which means it transfers heat more efficiently. Additionally, the specific heat capacity plays a role; materials with lower specific heat require less energy to increase in temperature. This results in the metal feeling hotter despite having absorbed less heat overall. The discussion highlights the interplay between absorption, reflection, thermal conductivity, and specific heat capacity in determining how materials feel when touched.