Metal feels colder than wood at the same temperature since it draws heat away faster.

The longer version

Your skin does not measure temperature directly. It senses how quickly heat is leaving the body, and a good conductor pulls that heat out fast, making the surface temperature drop. Metal moves energy through itself readily, while wood is full of tiny air pockets that slow the flow.

Both objects are at the same temperature, since they have been sitting in the same room. The difference is purely in how rapidly each one drains warmth from the hand. Materials with high thermal conductivity always feel cooler to the touch, and the contrast is strongest when they sit below body temperature.

Where this entry sits

Everyday physics and chemistry hide small wonders in plain sight, from kitchen reactions to the light in the sky. These short facts explain matter, energy, electricity, magnets, sound, and the simple units we use to measure the world. The full list sits on the Science and Physics page, where every entry is listed in order.