I am fanning myself on a hot day to cool myself. The air that the fan is blowing is supposed to be the same temperature as the air around it, but it feels cooler on my body (which is why I fan myself). Why is this so?
2007-05-30 17:05:13 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
The other answers all say it is "evaporation" that causes the "cooling effect".
I say this is wrong.
Your body temperature is about 98 degrees and the room temperature air is about 70 degrees.
The moving air will effect an equation that governs heat transfer that has a velocity component in it. If you don't belive me then heat a spoon on your stove (no water in the spoon) and blow a fan on it. It will cool faster because heat transfer from the spoon to the air is occuring faster do to the increased availability of cooler air (70 degrees) to spoon as a function of time. Evaporation is only "part" of the answer. Heat transfer equations with velocity components give better results.
2007-05-30 18:33:08 · answer #1 · answered by Velkomen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The moving air increases the evaporation of moisture on the skin, that creates a natural cooling effect.
Just that simple.
Have fun!
2007-05-31 00:10:48 · answer #2 · answered by Stratman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's increased evaporation on your skin when the air is moving. Evaporation takes heat away from your skin.
2007-05-31 00:09:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simply stated; the air removes the heat that your skin radiates and replaces it (temporarily) with cooler air...
2007-05-31 11:25:38 · answer #4 · answered by Brett M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The name of the phenomenon is "the wind chill factor".
2007-05-31 00:17:10 · answer #5 · answered by john doe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It evaporates water from your skin.
2007-05-31 00:11:17 · answer #6 · answered by supastremph 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋