Why is it that wood, at the same temperature, feels warmer than metal?

Question

Thanks so much! One of those little nagging Q's--now I know!

Answer 1

Metal is a good conductor, wood is a good insulator. When you touch metal it conducts the heat from your hand away cooling it. However when you touch wood it does not conduct as well and so keeps the heat near to your hand.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Metal is a much better conductor of thermal energy than wood, which is a natural insulator. If the metal and wood are cooler than your hand, the metal acts like a heat sink, drawing heat from you at a much faster rate than the wood, resulting in a sensation of coolness.

Answer 3

Only works if they are colder than your hand though... otherwise the metal will feel hotter than the wood. Because it transfers heat to your hand faster.

Answer 4

Wood is a natural insulator and metal is a natural conductor of heat energy.

So although they may be both at the same temperature when you measure it, when you touch it, the metal will dissipate the heat faster away from your touch than the wood does, thus feeling colder.