[Campbell Biology P.938] Referring to 'Concept Check 40.3,' Question 1 asks about 'wind chil... | Practice Question

Referring to 'Concept Check 40.3,' Question 1 asks about 'wind chill' and why moving air feels colder than still air at the same temperature. Which mode of heat exchange is primarily responsible for the 'wind chill' effect?

  • A: Radiation, as the moving air emits more heat.
  • B: Conduction, as the moving air directly transfers cold to the skin through molecular contact.
  • C: Convection, as moving air continuously carries away the layer of warmed air close to the body, increasing the rate of heat loss.
  • D: Evaporation, as the wind causes more sweat to vaporize from the skin.

Explanation

The 'wind chill' effect is primarily due to convection. Moving air wind constantly removes the thin layer of warm air that our body heats up around itself. This continuous removal of the insulated air layer increases the rate at which the body loses heat to the colder ambient air, making it feel much colder than still air at the same temperature.