Thursday, January 02, 2014

Telling Hot from Cold Water

Hot or cold?
Telling Hot from Cold Water
Two bowls of identical looking water, one is hot and the other is cold. Which is which without touching either?

Normally, I'd see which one is hot or cold by touching them -- those nerve endings are good for something. This is potentially dangerous if the temperatures are too hot or cold. Another useful clue is seeing if any steam rises from the surface too, but if the temperature isn't high enough, steam isn't very visible.

Why not pull out a couple thousand dollar camera and see? Winner is the one on the left. The heat clearly goes through the bottom to the cork trivet below it. And the cold bowl appears warmer than the surroundings -- possibly because the bowl and water came from the kitchen, which is usually warmer than the rest of the building. Or it could just be improper setup of the camera. 

Bowl of Hot and Cold Water Side by Side

 Reminder: Temperatures are not accurate.


Related
IR Vision, First Crack: Hot Cup, LCD TV, and a Laptop
Playing with Water
Reflections
Toaster Oven and Stove Top

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