Question

If a house key, a wooden spoon, a plastic hanger, and a wool jacket are all the same temperature, which one feels the coldest?

a) House key
b) Wooden spoon
c) Plastic hanger
d) Wool jacket

Answer 1

The house key would feel the coldest out of all the objects because metals have high thermal conductivity and quickly absorb heat from the skin.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a house key, a wooden spoon, a plastic hanger, and a wool jacket are all the same temperature, the one that would feel the coldest is a) House key. The sensation of coldness or warmth when touching an object depends on the rate of heat transfer between your skin and the object. This rate of heat transfer is influenced by the thermal conductivity of the material. Metals, like the material a house key is typically made of, have high thermal conductivity, which means they can absorb heat from your skin rapidly, creating a sensation of coldness. In contrast, materials like wood, plastic, and especially wool have lower thermal conductivity, meaning they do not absorb heat from your skin as quickly, and therefore, they feel less cold than metal at the same temperature.