Best for a Cold Night
Science brain teasers require understanding of the physical or biological world and the laws that govern it.
Which keeps you warmer, a two-inch thick blanket or two blankets one inch thick each? The blankets are made of the exact same material.
Answer
The two blankets one inch thick each. The layer of air between the two blankets acts as insulation too.
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Comments
tissue   
Jun 16, 2003
| Good show! Keep it up! |
griphook
Jun 16, 2003
| very interesting. May I request more information on this? thanks. |
Bobbrt
Jun 20, 2003
| In general, whenever you have a substance that is not moving, you have a heat insulator. Since there is "dead air" between the blankets, it provides more mass for the heat to have to transfer through, and therefore more insulation. Three layers of material, even if one of the layers is air, is always better than two. |
curtiss82
Dec 24, 2003
| I would like to add to this since I have a degree in chemical engineering. When ever two objects are placed together, there is resistance to heat flow since there is a gap between the two surfaces, no matter how smooth the surfaces. The gap is usually filled with air, which is a poor conductor of heat. A way to reduce the contact resistance is to apply pressure or apply a liquid substance the is good conductor of heat.
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bigSWAFF_69_
Nov 25, 2005
| I got it pretty easily, good one!
Except I've never seen a blanket two inches thick  |
bookworm91
Nov 28, 2005
| i got it. that was a good one.  |
Vudluxi 
Jun 03, 2006
| Easy but good. Who would have thought they taught this in chemical engineering? |
vbguy101
Aug 22, 2006
| Knew that!
The same principle applies to insulation in a Thermos. |
dudebomb93
Oct 29, 2007
| I GET ALOT OF THESE SCIENCE ONE RIGHT,IM MUST BE SMART |
yangjun 
Feb 18, 2008
| i love science!!!and this question is very easy!!! |
yangjun
Feb 18, 2008
| i love science!!!and this question is very easy!!!  |
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