Darrel conducted an experiment with the following procedure:
Fill two cups with ice water.
Place an uninflated balloon snuggly onto your left index finger.
Blow a little air into an identical ballon, and place it onto your right index
finger.
Place both fingers into the cup of ice water.
Darrel noticed that his right finger felt warmer in the ice water than did his left finger. Which of the following does the experiment show?
A. Air is a good radiator of heat.
B. Air is a good insulator of heat.
C. Air is a good conductor of heat.
D. Air is a good convector of heat. ***
No, not at all.
C. Air is a good conductor of heat. Is this correct?
The experiment described by Darrel involves comparing the temperature sensations of his left and right fingers when placed in cups of ice water. Darrel blew a little air into the balloon before placing it on his right index finger, while the balloon on his left index finger remained uninflated.
Based on the observation that his right finger felt warmer in the ice water than his left finger, we can conclude that air is a good convector of heat.
To understand why this is the correct answer, let's analyze the experiment:
When Darrel placed both fingers into the cup of ice water, heat from his fingers started to transfer to the surrounding cold water. The heat transferred from his fingers to the water through the process of conduction.
In the case of his left finger with the uninflated balloon, the layer of air trapped between the balloon and his finger acted as an insulator. This trapped air hindered the direct transfer of heat from his finger to the water, resulting in his left finger feeling less warmth.
However, with his right finger, the inflated balloon had air inside it. Air is a relatively poor conductor of heat compared to other substances, such as water. Therefore, the heat from his finger was more effectively transferred through the air inside the balloon and into the surrounding water, making his right finger feel warmer.
In summary, the experiment demonstrates that air is a good convector of heat because the inflated balloon allowed heat to be transferred from the finger to the water more effectively than when there was a layer of trapped air acting as an insulator in the uninflated balloon. Thus, the correct answer is D.