On touching a metal or wood, a person feels equally cold or hot at

Options

A. `98.4^(@)` C
B. 98.4 K
C. `98.4^(@)` F
D. `98.4^(@)` R

Answer

To solve the question of why a person feels equally cold or hot when touching metal or wood, we can break down the explanation step by step.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Temperature Sensation**:
When a person touches an object, they perceive the temperature of that object based on the heat transfer between their skin and the object. If heat flows from the object to the skin, the object feels cold; if heat flows from the skin to the object, it feels hot.

**Hint**: Consider how heat transfer occurs between two objects in contact.

2. **Thermal Equilibrium**:
The sensation of cold or hot is related to thermal equilibrium. According to the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics, if two bodies are in thermal contact and reach the same temperature, they are said to be in thermal equilibrium.

**Hint**: Recall the concept of thermal equilibrium and how it relates to temperature.

3. **Equal Temperature**:
For a person to feel equally cold or hot when touching metal or wood, both materials must be at the same temperature as the human body. The average human body temperature is approximately 98.4°F (37°C).

**Hint**: Think about what temperature both materials must be at for the sensation to be equal.

4. **Conclusion**:
Therefore, when a person touches metal or wood, they feel equally cold or hot because both materials are at the same temperature as the human body (98.4°F). This is why the sensation is similar regardless of the material.

**Hint**: Summarize the relationship between body temperature and the temperature of the materials being touched.

### Final Answer:
A person feels equally cold or hot when touching metal or wood because both materials are at the same temperature as the human body (approximately 98.4°F), resulting in no net heat transfer and thus a similar sensation.