Researchers found that during the initial stages of wood drying, the surface temperature of the wood is consistently higher than the wet-bulb temperature of the drying air. This observation contradicts theoretical predictions based on standard heat and mass transfer principles, which assume a uniform moisture distribution within the wood. However, the researchers hypothesize that the presence of a thin, dry layer at the wood surface, formed due to rapid initial drying, can explain this temperature discrepancy.
Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the researchers’ hypothesis?
Answer: