• felbane@lemmy.worldEnglish
    11·
    2 days ago

    The reason bridges form ice before roads is that they are exposed to cold air on all sides and have lower total thermal mass, so conduction from the bridge to the air allows the temperature of the bridge surface to drop faster. The ground has nearly infinite thermal mass, and it takes a long(er) time for ambient air temperature to affect the surface temperature.

    When you say “the ground holds more heat” you’re talking about that thermal mass. The temperature of the air is colder than the temperature of the ground, so yes from that perspective it “holds more heat.” But the temperature of a human is much much higher than the ground, and conduction is an extremely effective way to pull heat out of a human.

    • PunnyName@lemmy.worldEnglish
      10·
      2 days ago

      Yep! Slept on benches, chairs, and the ground when I was homeless. The ground is the worst for temperature (I’m technically homeless again, but at a shelter in a bed).

      • TachyonTele@lemm.eeEnglish
        2·
        2 days ago

        You said you’re at a shelter, but do you also take advantage of assistance from the government for looking for someplace? If this is too personal i understand.