2007-05-18 07:31:24 · 7 answers · asked by babygirl_149113 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Well, I guess that all depends of the temperature of the water doesn't it! - Mine feel warmer in hot water - hmmm
2007-05-18 07:36:13 · answer #1 · answered by Dr Dave P 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why do you think that pouring water should warm them up? I would say that the obvious answer is that they would cool. Since water is a universal coolant. We do take a shower or swim (along with every other animal) to cool down in summer. And this obvious answer is correct.
The reason water does that is something called heat capacity. It turns out that for a small molecule (h2o) the water molecule has an incredibly high heat capacity which means that it can take a lot of heat before heat would start affecting it like making it boil or something. So when you pour water on your feet, the water takes the heat away from your body which makes your feet cool.
I guess if you put boiling water on your feet, then the water already has as much heat as it can take (because if you add in a little more, it would boil). Therefore, instead of taking heat from your feet, it would release heat onto your feet (to cool itself down, sort of like how we sweat) and since water can absorb a LOT of heat before it reaches it full capacity, the heat released on your foot will hurt a lot and give you some severe burns and blisters. That is why steam attacks on your face and hands (when you are cooking for example) are very dangerous.
Remember, it is a law of thermodynamics that heat will flow from a concentrated area to a less concentrated area. If I put something hot and cold together, the heat would flow from hot to cold. Both of their temperatures would change until they achieve equilibrium at the average temperature.
2007-05-18 14:36:52 · answer #2 · answered by The Prince 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
At a certain temperature, water will start to feel cool. This is somewhat lower than your body temperature because you are constantly generating heat. But let us assume that the water is just at that boundary point. Assuming the humidity is not too high, the water will start to evaporate. Evaporation is an endothermic reaction, meaning that it steals heat from its surrounding area in order to liberate water molecules from liquid to gaseous state. This effect is even more pronounced with other liquids like alcohol which evaporate more readily.
2007-05-18 14:44:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is part of the same factor that causes wind chill. Each cc of water that is evaporated off your skin will absorber 60 calories. If u go swanning in a pool in the summer time in the evening and u get out the air is so dry the water will evaporate off u quickly and u will almost freeze.
2007-05-18 14:39:32 · answer #4 · answered by JOHNNIE B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you mean why do your feet feel cooler AFTER they're wet...
Evaporating water requires energy. It's known as an endothermic reaction. When water dries on your feet, it pulls heat energy FROM your feet, making them feel cooler.
2007-05-18 14:37:32 · answer #5 · answered by mark r 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because the vessels will constrict to save the bodies energy and heat so your feet get cooler, if your running and sweating then your vessels dilate and your feet are warmer because more blood closer to skin
2007-05-18 14:39:56 · answer #6 · answered by manda 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water loses heat during evaporation (The reason we sweat)
2007-05-18 16:06:34 · answer #7 · answered by Poor one 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋