Digital Thermometers in Cars

[oligopoly]

or any outside thermometer...
when there's a cold intermittent wind outside the temperature reading never seems to fluctuate. is the reading given just an average or the coldest temperature (when the wind is in full force)?

[ConfusedJohn]

They're protected from the wind inside the body work but away from the engine. Otherwise, a warm engine would show a warmer reading, and travelling at speed would show the wind chill factor.

[oligopoly]

ok thanks. so assuming that the digital thermometers you see on the side of buildings are also protected from the wind in a similar way, are we saying that the readings can be pretty inaccurate?

[almcd007]

A thermometer I had on one my old cars was on the front end under the bumper - I would have thought it would give uncertain readings due to water/ wind etc as it was exposed.

However I have one of those weather stations in my kitchen and I would often have a look at that before getting in my car and compare the results. I would then drive past a garage on my way and it had a massive digital thermometer on the roof and nearly always the readings were within half a degree of each other..

[Hammer]

The wind chill factor doesn't make the temperature any colder, it just feels like it is because it allows heat to escape from our bodies quicker.

A thermometer is not warmer than the surrounding air, so will not be affected by wind chill. It will still give the correct temperature.

[oligopoly]

"The wind chill factor doesn't make the temperature any colder, it just feels like it is because it allows heat to escape from our bodies quicker. "

is that true?!

[ugly_bob]

think about it like this oligopoly

If there is no wind, the heat you lose to the surrounding air warms that iar slightly, meaning it won't feel as cold.
Wind moves the warmed air on, replacing it with colder air, meaning it needs heating again, thus feeling colder.

[Panic Button]

The wind chill factor is due to avaporation of water from your body cooling you, so an object that is not wet should not experience windchill

[buildersmate]

Not true, I'm afraid Panic Button. Wind chill applies to dry and wet bodies. Refer to Hammer's answer above

[Panic Button]

Well Builders Mate I think we are both right.
A quick check on Wikipedia attributes it to both convection of heat away from the body and evaporation

[oligopoly]

Wikipedia shouldnt be used for the definitive answer! but cheers guys for your replies - makes sense in my head now.