A. Metal is an _excellent conductor_; and, therefore, becomes rapidly heated. For the same reason it becomes _rapidly cold_, when it comes in contact with a body _colder than itself_. Q. _Why does a PUMP-HANDLE feel intensely COLD in WINTER?_ A. As metal is an _excellent conductor_, when the hot hand touches the cold pump-handle, the heat passes rapidly _from the hand into the iron_; and this rapid loss of heat produces a sensation of intense coldness. Q. _Is the iron HANDLE of the pump really COLDER than the wooden PUMP itself?_ A. No; every inanimate substance (exposed to the same temperature) possesses the _same degree of heat_. Q. _Why then does the IRON HANDLE seem so MUCH COLDER than the WOODEN PUMP?_ A. Merely because the _iron is a better conductor_; and, therefore, _draws off the heat from our hand_ much more rapidly than wood does. Q. _Why does a STONE or marble HEARTH feel to the feet so much COLDER than a CARPET or hearth-rug?_ A. Because _stone and marble are good conductors_, but _woollen carpets and hearth-rugs_ are very _bad conductors_. Q. _Why does the STONE HEARTH make our FEET COLD?_ A. As soon as the hearth-stone has absorbed a portion of heat from our foot, it instantly disposes of it, and _calls for a fresh supply_; till the hearth-stone has become of the _same temperature as the foot placed upon it_. Q. _Do not the woollen CARPET and HEARTH-RUG, also, conduct heat from the human body?_ A. Yes; (but being very _bad conductors_) they convey _the heat away so slowly_, that it is scarcely perceptible. Q. _Is the COLD HEARTH-STONE and WARM CARPET then of the SAME TEMPERATURE?_ A. Yes; everything in the room is _really of the same temperature_; but some feel colder than others _because they are better conductors_. Q. _How LONG will the hearth-stone feel cold to the feet resting on it?_ A. Till the _feet and the hearth-stone are both of the same temperature_; and then the sensation of cold in the hearth-stone will go off. Q. _Why would not the HEARTH-STONE feel COLD, when it is of the SAME temperature as our FEET?_ A. Because the heat would no longer _rush out of our feet into the hearth-stone_, in order to produce an equilibrium. Q. _Why does the HEARTH-STONE (when the fire is lighted) feel so much HOTTER than the HEARTH-RUG?_ A. The hearth-stone is an _excellent conductor_; and, therefore, _parts with its heat more readily_ than the woollen hearth-rug; which (being a very _bad conductor_) parts with its heat reluctantly. Q. _Why does PARTING with HEAT RAPIDLY make the HEARTH-STONE feel WARM?_ A. As the heat of the stone rushes _quickly into our foot_, it raises its temperature _so suddenly_, that we cannot _help perceiving the increase of heat_. Q. _Why does the non-conducting power of the HEARTH-RUG prevent its feeling so HOT as it really is?_ A. Because it parts with its heat _so slowly and gradually_, that we scarcely _perceive its transmission_ into our feet.