Why is it important that a finger be wet before it is touched to a hot clothes iron?
To find the importance of a finger to be wet before it is touched to a hot clothes iron.
Answer to Problem 20A
The finger to be wet to safeguard it from burning.
Explanation of Solution
Introduction:
When two objects at different temperature comes in contact, heat is transferred from hotter object to colder object. When the colder object is wet, certain amount of transferred heat is used to evaporate the water on the wet object and only the remaining heat reaches the object.
When the wet finger touches the hot clothes iron, heat is transferred from iron to finger .Some portion of this heat is used to evaporate the water layer on the finger .Only remaining heat is transferred to our finger. Since the specific heat and latent heat of vaporization of water is large enough, this portion of heat used to evaporate water is larger than the heat transferred to our finger. Thus, we can avoid burning of our finger.
Conclusion:
Thus if the finger is wet when it touches the clothes iron, finger will be safeguarded from burning.
Chapter 23 Solutions
Conceptual Physics: The High School Physics Program
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
Essential University Physics: Volume 1 (3rd Edition)
College Physics
Physics (5th Edition)
College Physics: A Strategic Approach (3rd Edition)
University Physics (14th Edition)
Essential University Physics (3rd Edition)
- College PhysicsPhysicsISBN:9781305952300Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris VuillePublisher:Cengage LearningUniversity Physics (14th Edition)PhysicsISBN:9780133969290Author:Hugh D. Young, Roger A. FreedmanPublisher:PEARSONIntroduction To Quantum MechanicsPhysicsISBN:9781107189638Author:Griffiths, David J., Schroeter, Darrell F.Publisher:Cambridge University Press
- Physics for Scientists and EngineersPhysicsISBN:9781337553278Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage LearningLecture- Tutorials for Introductory AstronomyPhysicsISBN:9780321820464Author:Edward E. Prather, Tim P. Slater, Jeff P. Adams, Gina BrissendenPublisher:Addison-WesleyCollege Physics: A Strategic Approach (4th Editio...PhysicsISBN:9780134609034Author:Randall D. Knight (Professor Emeritus), Brian Jones, Stuart FieldPublisher:PEARSON