Why is it that 60° in air feels fine but when you get in a 60° swimming pool it feels cold and comfortable?
The reason why 60 degree air is so much more comfortable than 60 degree water is that water is about 25 times as thermally conductive as air is. This means that water at any temperature transmits its heat (or absorbs yours) 25 times more quickly than air of the same temperature. It is this reason…
The Short Answer
The reason why 60 degree air is so much more comfortable than 60 degree water is that water is about 25 times as thermally conductive as air is. This means that water at any temperature transmits its heat (or absorbs yours) 25 times more quickly than air of the same temperature. It is this reason why it is possible to sit in a 240 degree sauna for 20 minutes, while water at 120 degrees can cause burns within a couple of minutes. Conductivity. Edit: Whoops, yup! [/u/leavintown](_URL_1_) is right about the difference in thermal conductivity between air and water. According to [this](_URL_0_) the thermal conductivity of water is 0.58 W/(m.K) at 25-degrees C, while air is 0.024 W/(m.K) at the same temp. 0.58 / 0.024 == @25. Not 8, as I said previously.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Water, degree, conductivity
This explanation focuses on water, degree, conductivity and spans 125 words across 9 sentences. At 74% above the average Science explanation (72 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “The reason why 60 degree air is so much more comfortable than 60 degree water is that water is about 25 times as thermal” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 9 connected points.
How This Compares in Science
Ranked #70 of 500 Science questions by answer depth (top 15%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why it that 60° in air feels fine but when you get in a 60° swimming pool it feels cold and comfortable?
The reason why 60 degree air is so much more comfortable than 60 degree water is that water is about 25 times as thermally conductive as air is. This means that water at any temperature transmits its heat (or absorbs yours) 25 times more quickly…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Science questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 125 words, ranked #70 of 500 Science questions by depth. The key concepts covered are water, degree, conductivity.
What approach does this answer take to explain it that 60° in air feels fine but when you get in a 60° swim?
The explanation uses root cause analysis across 125 words. It is categorized under Science and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.