There’s the temp and then the “feels like” temp. If they are different, how does a thermometer read the real temp and not what it feels like, since it feels like the feels like temp?

Question

I know this title sounds crazy but I don’t know how to phrase my question better

In: 5716

Answer 1

A thermometer isn’t feeling like we are. Modern ones use an electrical sensor has known reactions to certain temperatures. For example each degree difference from 20 adds or subtracts 0.1 resistance.

If the thing is neutral at 20° and resistance is 1.0, we know that when resistance is 1.5 it must be 25°..by measuring the resistance, we know the temperature.

Your body on the other hand has specialized nerves that detect warming and cooling, then feeds that into your brain. So let’s say it’s, 10°C. Your earm receptors report “Yeah, nothing special happening here, we’re doing our usual thing” and your cold receptors are like “eh, it’s a bit crisp but we’re not detecting anything crazy” Then your brain sets it out and decides, yeah it’s cooling more than it’s warming but we’re at a small difference, doesn’t matter.

If it’s 10°C but there’s strong wind, this is going to mean your warming receptors saying “Hey man, I’m trying here but we aren’t warming at all!” Since the wind is sweeping away that thermic boundary of sir you’ve warmed around yourself. Meanwhile your cold receptors are going gangbusters “Hey. We’re detecting massive cooling here, like, ITS INSANE!” There your brain says “Okay, it’s 10°C but I’m getting massive cooling, we’re losing heat and have no warming at all? Yeah it feels like it’s probably closer to 4°C.