Temperature Sensations

[WeAreBongo]

I just took my lunch out of a cold fridge - thermometer read 1 degree celcius. Contents of sandwich bag contained small tin of tuna and two slices of bread. The tin felt icy cold but the bread didn't feel that cold at all. Why is that when they've both been chilled to the same temperature?

[jno]

bread that's frozen feels the same to me as other things that have frozen, but it happens at different temperatures... water freezes at 0 degrees but vodka doesn't, for instance... anyway, someone will give you a proper chemical explanation, which I can't

[Maypole]

thermal consuctivity - the same reason carpets feel warmer than stone floors even though theyre teh same temperature.

The tuna transfers heat out of your hand/mouth more quickly than the bread does, so you experience it as being colder.

[beso]

The sensation of temperature depends no only on the temperature but the conductivity of the thing being touched.

The surface of the cold bread poorly conducting bread quickly warms to your touch. The highly conductive cold metal continues to draw the heat away from your skin.

[beso]

I like it - "consuctivity". A new word for sucking the heat out of an object.

[WeAreBongo]

Quick answers! Now I know - thanks...

[Maypole]

Beso the bread doesnt "warm to the touch quickly" - that would infer a higher thermal conductivity. Its precisely because its NOT drawing heat from the mouth/hand that it feels warmer (it is of course exactly the same temperature as the tuna the moment it leaves the fridge).

[Maypole]

lol lets add a k, we're amongst friends.

Thats the answer Bongo - thermal consucktivity

[beso]

The SURFACE or the bread wams quickly because the low themal consucktivity of the bread. Consequently it does not suck further heat from the skin ahd does not feel cold.