Why does a piece of ice when touched with hand, appear cool? Explain

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Heat Transfer**: When we touch an object, heat can transfer between our body and that object. Heat always flows from a warmer object to a cooler one until thermal equilibrium is reached.

2. **Temperature of Ice**: Ice is at a temperature below 0°C (32°F), which is significantly cooler than the human body temperature, which is approximately 37°C (98.6°F).

3. **Contact with Ice**: When we touch a piece of ice, our hand, being warmer, transfers heat to the ice. This process is known as conduction, where heat moves through direct contact.

4. **Heat Absorption by Ice**: The ice absorbs the heat from our hand. As the ice absorbs this heat, it undergoes a phase change from solid to liquid, which requires energy (latent heat of fusion).

5. **Feeling of Coolness**: As our hand loses heat to the ice, we perceive a sensation of coolness. This is because our body is losing heat, and the temperature of our skin decreases, making us feel cold.

6. **Conclusion**: Therefore, a piece of ice feels cool when touched because it absorbs heat from our hand, leading to a drop in temperature of our skin.

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