If you are near something hot, say an open flame, you can feel the heat radiating from the fire. I have a juvenile understanding of thermodynamics, but I understand that there is energy radiating from the heat source which is what I’m feeling.
By contrast, if you hover your hand near an ice cold drink, you can FEEL the cold before even touching the glass.
How is this possible since my hand is seemingly radiating more energy than the drink is? Is what I’m feeling just the energy leaving my hand and entering the drink?
In: 9
You are exactly right. When you feel temperature of something you are feeling the flow of heat. The ice is cold and so absorbs heat from the air making it cold. The cold air is absorbing heat from your hand. Like wise with hot things. They heat up the air and the air is heating your hand. It’s a little different for things like hyper and hypothermia but in general this is how it works when your body is at a normal healthy temp.
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