Why are certain materials colder than others? (i.e. metal compared to wood)
In: Physics
There is a heat flux from yiur hand to the touched material. This is basically defined by. heat conductivity and heat capacity and the temperature difference.
Heat capacity guves you an idea how mwich energy is needed to heat an meterial up.
The more energy you need to heat the material up (the higher the heat capacity) the colder your hand get.
Heat conductivity is about how far energy is transporter through the Material. Material with high cinductivities get warmer in a distance. Therefore more energy is needed since you have to heat more material.
If you touch foam. Low heat conductovity (the energy stays close to your hands) and low heat capacity (you dont need much energy to heat it up)
Therefore your hand stays warm.
If you touch a metal wit high conductivity and capacity you will need more energy ti heat it up, therefore your hand is cooled much more down.
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