Why does metal feel colder than wood?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Metal conducts heat faster
Metal conducts heat faster ✓ — Correct! At room temperature, metal and wood are the same temperature. But metal is a great heat conductor, so it quickly pulls heat from your warm hand. Wood is a poor conductor, so heat leaves your hand slowly. The faster heat loss makes metal feel colder, even though it isn't!
Wood generates heat — Wrong. Wood doesn't generate heat on its own. Both wood and metal are at room temperature. The difference is that wood is a poor heat conductor, so it doesn't pull heat from your hand as quickly as metal does.
Metal is actually colder — Wrong. Metal and wood at room temperature are the same temperature. Metal feels colder because it conducts heat away faster, not because it's actually at a lower temperature.