The Science of Staying Warm

Field test  

Sunday, December 27th. 8 am.
Quinter, KS.

Temperature inside my car was at freezing water's freezing point last night.

Fractals on my windowpane.
Yes the ice flakes are inside my car!

I wanted to prove I can sleep in my car through 18F cold, and this is proof enough to me.

Outside temperature 20 to 16 F

Temperature between my blankets 66F

Here's my shelter.

I made a tent with my full-size comforter. The edges hang over the four headrests. I sleep underneath.

Blue flannel mountain

Interior of my fort

It's like when as kids we build forts with kitchen table chairs. It was fun!

Temperatures

From top left: car interior, edge of tent, center of tent, between the blankets.

(If I put captions underneath, the pictures don't stay in place.)

Summary: 20F outside, 32F in car, 44F at tent, 52F in tent, 68F in blankets

Interesting fact:

Milk freezes at a lower temperature than water, because it is a colloid with fat and protein globules that make it harder for water to form a solid crystal.

At first I thought my thermometer was not accurate, because it read 32 F - at which water freezes, yet my milk remained liquid through the night. Then I remembered high school chemistry and that adding particles to a solution can reduce its freezing point, like sprinkling salt to de-ice a sidewalk.

Milk freezes at 31 F, so that hairline difference in temperature allowed me to enjoy a liquid gulp of ice cold cowy goodness in the morning.


Recess

In cold places, people like to think warm

Christmas at the beach

Frosty 'the bundle of hay' man