Buzz
Reader Josh asks: "Why does 60-degree weather feel comfortable, but when we enter the ocean or pool at the same temperature, it feels freezing?"
Even if the air and water share the same temperature, what causes us to perceive them differently? The explanation lies in heat transfer, where thermal energy moves from a warmer object to a cooler one.
When the temperature of your body is higher than that of the surrounding medium, whether air or water, your body will release heat. However, when the surrounding temperature exceeds your body temperature, you’ll begin to absorb heat instead.
The sensation of warmth or cold we experience is determined by the amount of heat that transfers between our body and the surrounding medium, as well as the speed of that transfer. This process depends on how well the medium conducts heat. Water feels colder than air because it is a better conductor. When you enter a 60-degree pool, heat escapes your body much more rapidly than it would if you were standing in 60-degree air. Because water draws more heat from your body—and does so faster—it feels colder.
More About Temperature
The Fahrenheit scale, introduced in 1724 by physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686-1736), is based on three reference points: the 0-degree point was determined by immersing a thermometer in a mixture of ice, water, and ammonium chloride; the 32-degree point was set by placing the thermometer in water where ice was forming on the surface; and the 96-degree point was established when the thermometer was placed in his mouth or armpit. Over time, scientists adjusted the scale slightly (which is why normal body temperature is 98.6 and not 96). While most countries now use the Celsius scale, Fahrenheit is still used for everyday purposes in the US and a few other places like Belize. * 40 degrees below zero is the same temperature on both the Fahrenheit and Celsius scales. * The title Fahrenheit 451 refers to the temperature at which paper ignites in flames. Modern scientific sources estimate this temperature to be 572°F, but Ray Bradbury, relying on contemporary sources, cited 842°F. Nevertheless, his 451°F remains a more memorable figure.
