Why does it feel warmer to walk barefoot over wooden floors than to walk over ceramic tiles even if both are side-by-side in the same room?
In: 3184
Just to add a corollary to the explanations of conductivity, the wood would feel *cooler* if the wood and ceramic were out in the sun, and both were heated to a temperature of over 100 degrees F, for the same reason — the ceramic would transfer heat to your feet faster than the wood does.
probably because wood is a better insulator than ceramic or stone. which means you lose less heat to it over time, or in essence, you warm up the wood faster than you warm up the stone in the spot you’re stepping.
the wood and stone are the same temperature, when your foot makes contact, you heat up the first layer of wood, when your foot makes contact with the stone, you need to heat up the first layer of stone and all its buddies beneath it.
probably because wood is a better insulator than ceramic or stone. which means you lose less heat to it over time, or in essence, you warm up the wood faster than you warm up the stone in the spot you’re stepping.
the wood and stone are the same temperature, when your foot makes contact, you heat up the first layer of wood, when your foot makes contact with the stone, you need to heat up the first layer of stone and all its buddies beneath it.
probably because wood is a better insulator than ceramic or stone. which means you lose less heat to it over time, or in essence, you warm up the wood faster than you warm up the stone in the spot you’re stepping.
the wood and stone are the same temperature, when your foot makes contact, you heat up the first layer of wood, when your foot makes contact with the stone, you need to heat up the first layer of stone and all its buddies beneath it.
* Heat flows from the hottest body to the coldest body.
* Heat can transfer faster in some materials than others (think of a cup of tea in a thermos vs one that’s just left in the open)
* Metal transfers heat pretty well
When you touch a piece of wood, heat takes time to spread over the entire piece of wood (and the air surrounding it). So the spot you touch stays warmer longer. When you touch a piece of metal, heat spreads everywhere on that piece of metal, the spot you’re touching doesn’t stay the same temperature very long. You’re effectively heating the entire piece of metal.
Ceramic tile loses heat more than wood does. That’s why it feels colder on your feet than wooden flooring.
* Heat flows from the hottest body to the coldest body.
* Heat can transfer faster in some materials than others (think of a cup of tea in a thermos vs one that’s just left in the open)
* Metal transfers heat pretty well
When you touch a piece of wood, heat takes time to spread over the entire piece of wood (and the air surrounding it). So the spot you touch stays warmer longer. When you touch a piece of metal, heat spreads everywhere on that piece of metal, the spot you’re touching doesn’t stay the same temperature very long. You’re effectively heating the entire piece of metal.
Ceramic tile loses heat more than wood does. That’s why it feels colder on your feet than wooden flooring.
* Heat flows from the hottest body to the coldest body.
* Heat can transfer faster in some materials than others (think of a cup of tea in a thermos vs one that’s just left in the open)
* Metal transfers heat pretty well
When you touch a piece of wood, heat takes time to spread over the entire piece of wood (and the air surrounding it). So the spot you touch stays warmer longer. When you touch a piece of metal, heat spreads everywhere on that piece of metal, the spot you’re touching doesn’t stay the same temperature very long. You’re effectively heating the entire piece of metal.
Ceramic tile loses heat more than wood does. That’s why it feels colder on your feet than wooden flooring.
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