MadSci Network: Physics
Query:

Subject: How does rubbing snow on dog's paws dry them?

Date: Thu Apr 5 21:56:18 2001
Posted by Emma Wynn
Grade level: K-3 School: Canadian Academy
City: Kobe State/Province: No state entered. Country: Japan
Area of science: Physics
ID: 986522178.Ph
Message:

I was sent the following question by a third grade friend of my daughter's and 
need help to answer it. Dear Mrs. Wynn, My class and I want to know why some 
people in the Arctic use snow to help keep them warm. For example, they might 
take off their mitten, rub snow on their hands, and put it back on. If you know 
please contact us. -Thank you. From, Anastasia in Mrs. Hartman's class. 
Apparently this behaviour was shown in a Discovery Channel special recently and 
they read in Balto that the mushers rub snow on the dog's paws if they get wet, 
otherwise their paws will freeze and they will never be able to walk again. I 
thought maybe the very cold snow actually dried the paws (hands) as the 
moisture would freeze to the extrememly cold and dry snow and therefore be 
removed with the snow as it was rubbed off. 

I look forward to your reply 

Emma Wynn 



Re: How does rubbing snow on dog's paws dry them?

Current Queue | Current Queue for Physics | Physics archives

Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Physics.



MadSci Home | Information | Search | Random Knowledge Generator | MadSci Archives | Mad Library | MAD Labs | MAD FAQs | Ask a ? | Join Us! | Help Support MadSci


MadSci Network, webadmin@www.madsci.org
© 1995-2001. All rights reserved.