Physics question, relating to your clothes dryer. Suppose that there are already some dry clothes in the dryer and?

Physics question, relating to your clothes dryer. Suppose that there are already some dry clothes in the dryer and .. I don't empty it. I throw in a load of wet clothes from the washer.

Does it take LONGER to dry them all (because the load is larger; even though some of the items in the dryer are already dry)? OrDoes it take a shorter amount of time to dry, because the average dryness is *increased* because there were already dry clothes in the dryer? OrIs there no discernible difference when I leave dry stuff in the dryer?

Asked by ElBanditoRoso 7 months ago Similar questions: Physics question relating clothes dryer Suppose dry Environment > Energy.

Similar questions: Physics question relating clothes dryer Suppose dry.

I would think it would take longer, because the dry clothes are still absorbing heat even though they are dry.

Sorry, I had to take a shot at it before the details, lol.

I believe Carla is correct. The largest factor in drying time is weight. The longer it takes to heat, the longer it takes to dry.

But there are other confounding factors, and it would be interesting to run an experiment. Two slightly damp things should dry faster than one wet thing, due to the increased surface area. I think that's a smaller factor.

Right. I am sure there is some formula that takes into account volume and humidity and airflow, but I am not adept enough a materials science and physics to even begin to work it out. I figure that the line will cross somewhere -- very wet items mixed with dry will be a reduced time, and mostly dry items will take more, but that's just my theory.

And to think that this whole question came out of my laziness. I didn't fully empty the dryer last night before throwing in the next load. ElBanditoRoso 7 months ago .

It's complicated enough that I get to dub it an engineering problem rather than a physics problem, and thus not in my domain. Neat, huh? .

A true academic. ElBanditoRoso 7 months ago .

I'd guess the dry clothes make very little difference. The real heat catchers are the moisture in the wet clothes. The dry clothes will absorb just a little bit of the heat, and any extra they will re-emit, so after a short while the dry clothes have no net effect.. It's the water in the clothes that is the largest absorber of the heat, then the water evaporates and carries the heat away as humidity.

It's the same as your refrigerator: the more stuff in there, the more energy is spent maintaining the stuff in there. Widely believed, but not true. In fact, it's slightly the other way around.It takes a bit of energy to initially cool down the extra food, but once it's chilled, it takes NO extra effort to keep it cold.

Once cooled down, a million pounds of ice takes no extra energy to keep it cold. In fact, it takes a bit less, as there's less air in the fridge when you put in food, so less cold air escapes when you open the door.

It's the same as your refrigerator: the more stuff in there, the more energy is spent maintaining the stuff in there. An empty refrigerator is cheaper to chill than a full one; an empty dryer is cheaper to dry than a full one. The fabric you leave in the dryer merely occupies space that needs to be left open for the circulation of the drying air (this is why you also should clean the lint trap halfway thru).

The less stuff, the faster the stuff dries. I remove already-dry clothes exactly so that the other still-wet clothes will dry faster and use less energy.

I would like to know how to dry clean clothes at home. Is it really necessary to have a clothes dryer (I don't)? " "Has anyone ever tried inventing a vacuum clothes dryer?" "A question about physics.

(sp? )" "Physics question help" "Etiquette question - What to do about female roommate's clothes in the dryer?" "Why won't my dryer dry clothes?! It takes at least an hour, machine is 3 years old." "Concrete question.

How long until we can use the ground sleeve for outdoor clothes dryer? " "What's the name of the dryer that stops automatically when the clothes are dry?" "For "machine wash cold, tumble dry low" clothes - what's the harm of using warm water, since the dryer is hotter anyway? " "what is the first question of physics in the waec of 2011/2012.

I would like to know how to dry clean clothes at home. Is it really necessary to have a clothes dryer (I don't)?

Why won't my dryer dry clothes?! It takes at least an hour, machine is 3 years old.

Concrete question. How long until we can use the ground sleeve for outdoor clothes dryer?

What is the first question of physics in the waec of 2011/2012.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.