Question

Thewood,papertowel,andaluminumfoilwereallatroomtemperaturewhenyou measured temperature for each object. Based on your results, explain why each of these items appears to be a different temperature when you touch them compared to the measured temperature.

Answer 1

Answer:

The difference in the observed temperature of measurement of the material and their apparent temperature when touched by hand is due to their relative higher affinity for heat. As such aluminum with a lower heat capacity or higher affinity or transmission ability for heat than the hand will feel cool when touched.

The materials have different specific heat capacity or heat affinity which is a measure of their ability to quickly take on the temperature of their surroundings, in this case their ability to conduct heat energy relative to the hand

Explanation:

The aluminium with specific heat capacity of 0.900 J/gm K requires very little heat to cause a temperature change compared to a wood with a specific heat capacity of 1.76 J/gm K such that when one touches a piece of aluminium, the aluminium quickly raises its temperature by absorbing heat from the hand which is observed as it (the aluminium), being cold. The same can be said of the paper towel

The relationship is

Heat loss or gain = mass × specific heat capacity × temperature change

In other words, aluminium has a higher affinity for heat than either the hand or wood