Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Why does a fan (or any moving air) cool you down?

Is it just that is causes the moisture/other liquids on your skin to evaporate faster? If so, how?

5 Answers

Relevance
  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    That's one.

    The other is forced convection:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convection#Free_and_f...

    convection is a modified form of conduction. The immediate process is conduction, but the heated air is moved away and replaced by cooler air. Forced convection can result in 10 times higher heat transfered than with natural convection.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    when the sweat evaporates, it takes the heat needed for (latent heat for vaporization) from our body. therefore the body loses heat and gets cooled down. when the air is still, its relative humidity rises as soon the sweat vapours. so the water potential gradient decreases, and the rate of cooling drops. but when the air is moving, (eg: a fan) the higher humidity air is continuously replaced by less ones. so the water potential gradient between the body and the atmosphere rises and the rate of cooling rises. that's why we feel cool when in front of a fan.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    The moving air removes heat both by direct contact (conduction) and by evaporation of perspiration.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    molecules from moving air absorb more heat from ur skin so you feel cold

  • How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
  • 1 decade ago

    It increases the wind chill effect

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.