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Why does it putting your hand in boiling water burn more than putting your hand in a hotter oven?

User KSPR
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Final answer:

Boiling water burns more than putting your hand in a hotter oven because of the difference in specific heat and the mode of heat transfer.

Step-by-step explanation:

Boiling water burns more than putting your hand in a hotter oven because the specific heat of water is over four times greater than the specific heat of aluminum. This means it takes more heat to achieve the same temperature change in water compared to aluminum.

Additionally, when your hand is exposed to boiling water, the heat is transferred directly to your skin through conduction. In contrast, an oven heats the air inside and the hot air then transfers heat to your hand through convection.

Conduction is a more efficient mode of heat transfer, which is why putting your hand in boiling water results in a more severe burn.

User Ravnsgaard
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