Water removes heat from the body much faster than air. Which range best describes this difference?

• A. 5-10 times faster
• B. 100 times faster
• C. 2-3 times faster
• D. 25-40 times faster

Answer: (D)

Water removes heat from the body much faster because it conducts and convects heat away from the skin far more efficiently than air. Water has a much higher thermal conductivity, and its greater density means it can carry away more heat for each degree of warming. In practical terms, the body can lose heat to water roughly twenty-five times faster than to air, with estimates commonly cited in the 25–40 times range. That’s why the 25–40 times faster option best matches how rapidly heat can be drawn off in water.