would i get wetter if i ran in the rain or walked?

Answer 1

Actually, if you ran, you would get wetter faster. I know that sounds weird, but it's true.

It seems more logical that if you walked you would become even more wet, but evidence has proved otherwise.

Answer 2

There has been a fair amount of research on this.

If the rain is coming straight down and you run you will get wetter than if you walk because you intercept more rain (you need to do a bit of trig to prove this), than if you walk.

However if the rain is angled, which is often is, it doesn't really make that much difference.

Of course if you run the rain will hit you harder and has a better chance of penetrating your clothing so if you are wearing something that is shower proof it's better to walk.

To sum up, in some cases you will get wetter if you run, but you will not be exposed to the cold so long so it if I was you I would peg it!

However,

Answer 3

It's all about the surface are and the amount of time in the rain.

Given that you're in the rain for the same amount of time if you ran or walked (say 1 minute or something). Then Running would get you wetter because you could be meeting the rain with a larger area of your body - the whole front of you as well as the top of your head.

If you were walking then you'd "meet" less rain from the front - so be less wet.

but of course If you were to walk slowly across a rainy day road then you'd proably be wetter than if you ran.

And if you were a fatty then you would probablt get wetter than a slim person if you walked.

May someone should develop an equation for that.....

Answer 4

Think of it this way. In any cubic foot of air, there is a relatively constant density of rain drops. Therefore, the number of rain drops your front vertical surface will sweep out crossing a fixed distance is about the same, regardless of whether you run or walk. However, your top horizontal surfaces will get much wetter if you walk due to the longer exposure.

I say RUN! More fun.

Answer 5

You would have to specify what distance you were running.

For example, if you were 100 yards from A to B...

Assuming the same amount of rain falls the entire time of the experiment, if you walked through the rain from A to B, you would receive much more water on your body than if you ran, only because by running you are shortening the amount of time you are in the rain.

Now, if you are judging by time, for example, running for 30 seconds in rain, and walking for 30 seconds in rain, it would make no difference because you're spent the same amount of time getting rained upon.

One thing to also consider though, there might be a possibility that running in the rain creates a bit of a air field around yourself that would stop rain from hitting certain parts of your body. Not too sure, just thought of that :P

Answer 6

If you run you get wetter, strange but true. Like the lady above I too watched Mythbusters and they helpfully explained that when you run a larger area of your body comes into contact with the actual rain droplets (all down your front instead of just your head and shoulders) and so yes, you do get wetter the faster you go.

Answer 7

Well if u walk then u'll be exposed for longer so even if it has been said running will get u wetter I still think u r better off running (mind u how fast u can run will matter too). The other point is if u run then u wont feel the cold as ur body generate heat.

Answer 8

You definately get wetter when you run. The best thing to do is buy a rain mac or use an umbella or read the weather forecast and dress appropriately.

Answer 9

I assume that you have a particular journey in mind.
The longer you stay out in the rain the wetter you will become.
So if you run all the way to your desination rather than walk you should not be as wet as if you walked.

Answer 10

Why on earth would someone drive with the roof down in the rain.

When driving in the rain and looking at your windshield it appears to rain harder the faster you drive. My guess is you'll get wetter when running

Answer 11

Depends on the rain.

If the rain is coming straight down, and you assume that you are a cylinder for purposes of the math, then you are better off standing still and waiting the rain out. (The rain all collects on the top of the cylinder and the face of it stays dry because rain cannot hit it because it is coming straight down.)

In reality you are not a cylinder, and the rain does not usually fall straight down, so you should run.