Chapter 9, Problem 5RQ

To determine

Whether coldness travels from the surface to hands or thermal energy travel from hand to the cold surface when a person touches a cold surface.

Answer to Problem 5RQ

The thermal energy moves out from a person’s hand to the cold surface when a person touches it, and as a result, coldness is felt.

Explanation of Solution

Heat is thermal energy that transfers in the direction of cold from hot. That is heat transfers from a hot body to a cold body. A body is felt cold when it lacks the thermal energy. That is cold is the resultant caused due to the void of heat. In other words, cold is the result of lowered thermal energy.

Thus, when a person touches a cold surface, the coldness is felt because heat energy has moved out of your hands. There is no other cold that travels in the direction of your hands from cold surface.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the thermal energy moves out from a person’s hand to the cold surface when a person touches it, and as a result, coldness is felt.