50 THE SEASON WHY. 



Fire and hail ; snow and vapour ; stormy wind fulfilling his word." 

 PSALM CXLVIII. 



making its heat perceptible). But the hearth-rug 1 , being a bad 

 conductor, would part with its heat very slowly, and it would there- 

 fore be less perceptible. 



143. Would the hearth-stone feel hotter than the hearth- 

 rug though both were of the same temperature ? 



It would feel hotter than the hearth-rug, because it would part 

 with its heat so rapidly that it would be the more perceptible. 



144. But if the hearth-stone and the hearth-rug were both 

 colder than the hand, which would feel the colder of the two ? 



Then the hearth-stone would feel the colder, because, being a good 

 conductor, it would take heat from the hand more freely than the 

 hearth-rug-, which is a bad conductor. 



145. Why would the hearth-stone feel comparatively hotter 

 in the one case, and colder in the other ? 



Because, being a good conductor, it would conduct heat rapidly 

 to the hand when hot, and take heat rapidly from the hand when 

 cold. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



146. Which are the better conductors of heat, fluids or 

 solids ? 



Generally speaking 1 , solids, especially those of them that are dense 

 in their substance. 



147. Why are dense substances the best conductors of 

 heat ? 



Because the heat more readily travels from particle to particle 

 tin til it pervades the mass. 



148. Why are fluids bad conductors of heat ? 



Because of the want of density in their bodies ; and because a 

 portion of the imbibed heat always passes off from fluids by 

 evaporation. 



