Re: Practice the Black Arts in class, get fired.

On Thursday, in article <g2rtvn$dnq$1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
     sethb@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 "Seth" wrote:

> In article <g0kjou$qsj$1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
> Tim McDaniel <tmcd@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> 
> >    But a doctor testifying on behalf of Mrs. Liebeck argued that
> >    lowering the serving temperature to about 160 degrees could make a
> >    big difference, because it takes less than three seconds to
> >    produce a third-degree burn at 190 degrees, about 12 to 15 seconds
> >    at 180 degrees and about 20 seconds at 160 degrees.
> 
> I've poured actively boiling water over my hand (OK, I'm clumsy, I was
> draining spaghetti).  1-2 seconds of exposure at 212 degrees did not
> cause third degree burns.  It did not cause second degree burns.  It
> barely caused first degree burns.
> 
> I trust my own experiences more than some doctor who was paid to give
> testimony favorable to one side.

I think you're forgetting the effect of clothing, which could trap the 
hot water against the skin. There wouldn't be maintenance of the 
temperature, which could come from flowing water if somebody was daft 
enough not to move their hand, but a significant part of the cooling 
would be heat transfer into the skin. And it's that which does the 
damage.

Hotter fluid also gives faster initial heat flow, leading to a faster 
temperature rise.



-- 
David G. Bell -- SF Fan, Filker, and Punslinger.

On the horizon, a carrier task force of the Salvation Navy was 
turning into the wind, preparing to launch Zeppelins.