ELi5: Why does it take longer for cold water to reach room temperature than it does hot water?

Question

I think it might have something to do with condensation/evaporation? Not sure how it works though.

In: 0

Answer 1

Hot water has more energy to lose to get to room temperature so the change is more noticeable. You don’t sense temperature you sense difference in temperature.

Water can only get down to 32F and still be liquid it can get all the way up to 212f and still be liquid. The greater change on the hot end is more noticeable. That doesn’t make hot water cool faster it’s just more noticeable when something hot cools than something cooler than room temperature warming up to room temperature