[TR] Triumphs Digest, Vol 1, Issue 232

[Jim Muller]

On 3 Oct 2007 at 22:19, terryrs at comcast.net wrote:

> And now I think about it, if the heater core heats the room, how
> could the heater core ever be other than the room temperature?

If the heater core heats the room, how could it ever *not* be hotter 
than the room temperature?

It's like this, Terry.  Heat flow from a higher temperature to a 
lower one, kinda' like how money from Massachusetts drivers' pockets 
flows downhill into New Hampshire toll booths.  If the heater core 
isn't hotter than the room, there will be no heat flow and the room 
will never be warmed.  On a cold day, heat flows from the room to the 
outside through the walls, windows, doors, floor, ceiling.  This will 
continue until the temperature of the room eventually reaches the 
same temperature as the outdoors.  In order to keep the room warm, 
the heater core must be warmer than the room so that heat flows from 
the core to the room.  The ultimate temperature of the room will be 
whatever produces an equilibrium between heat coming from the core 
and begin lost to the outside.  When Massachusetts drivers no longer 
have any loose change, they will stop driving through New Hampshire 
toll booths.

Aren't you glad you asked?

-- 
Jim Muller
jimmuller at rcn.com
'80 Spitfire, '70 GT6+



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