A simple solution : fanning yourself

[Copy_Repair_Guy]

Going through the archives I came across the following question Is fanning yourself energy efficient? The basic question was whether or not the heat generated while fanning one’s self was greater than the cooling effects generated by the fanning.

I found the answer to be very thorough and well-considered, involving a lot of math by someone who was obviously very scientific and knowledgeable.

However I’m a simple man who tries to look for the simplest solution to a problem whenever possible. I believe the following experiment would answer the question more definitively.

1. Measure someone’s temperature with a thermomoter.
2. Have them fan themselves.
3. Measure their temperature again.

This strikes me as being a case of a very intelligent person over-thinking the problem. What say you?

[AskNott]

I say it’s not that simple. The body has several complex systems to keep its temperature constant. For example, there’s control of sweat, blood flow to various parts of the body, and rate of breathing. You can’t just change fanning oneself and not give credit to all the other systems.

[CarnalK]

@AskNott

I say it’s not that simple. The body has several complex systems to keep its temperature constant. For example, there’s control of sweat, blood flow to various parts of the body, and rate of breathing. You can’t just change fanning oneself and not give credit to all the other systems.

Sure you can. All those systems would have been working when you took the “before” temperature. Take the temp 10 minutes after you start fanning and you should be able to attribute the change to fanning.

[WF_Tomba]

With all due respect, I think Una missed the point on this one.

@Una

There’s also a difference between being physically cooler and having the perception of being cooler, but in this article I’ll focus only on the physical heat transfer aspects of the fanning process.

The purpose of fanning oneself is to increase comfort, not induce hypothermia. The perception of being cooler is all that matters here. If fanning yourself lowers your upper-body skin temperature enough for you to feel cooler, who cares if you’ve generated a greater amount of excess heat internally? It’s only a problem if you generate so much extra heat that it eliminates the cooling sensation.

[DSYoungEsq]

@WF Tomba

With all due respect, I think Una missed the point on this one.

The purpose of fanning oneself is to increase comfort, not induce hypothermia. The perception of being cooler is all that matters here. If fanning yourself lowers your upper-body skin temperature enough for you to feel cooler, who cares if you’ve generated a greater amount of excess heat internally? It’s only a problem if you generate so much extra heat that it eliminates the cooling sensation.

Which, of course, is why the experiment proposed in the OP will answer the question of actual temperature, but won’t answer the more practical question: is it worth doing?

[Canadjun]

@CarnalK

Sure you can. All those systems would have been working when you took the “before” temperature. Take the temp 10 minutes after you start fanning and you should be able to attribute the change to fanning.

As AskNott said, “The body has several complex systems to keep its temperature constant.”. If the body is holding its temperature constant then, obviously, a before and after temp won’t show any change.

[Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical]

Wouldn’t the easier test be to check to see if you feel cooler after fanning?

[SeanArenas]

@WF Tomba

With all due respect, I think Una missed the point on this one.

The purpose of fanning oneself is to increase comfort, not induce hypothermia. The perception of being cooler is all that matters here. If fanning yourself lowers your upper-body skin temperature enough for you to feel cooler, who cares if you’ve generated a greater amount of excess heat internally? It’s only a problem if you generate so much extra heat that it eliminates the cooling sensation.

Not necessarily - if you are in a situation where cooling yourself matters for health reasons, than that would take precedence over comfort, right?

In a desert, during the heat of day, while you’re sitting in the only patch of shade in sight … do you fan yourself, or do you sit very still? If the goal is to keep your body temperature lower so that you don’t sweat and expirate out all of your moisture, or so you don’t damage your body with a high temperature … then which should you do, fan yourself or loaf?