2.1.6

Thermal Conductivity

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Thermal Conductivity

Materials have a property called thermal conductivity which dictates how easily heat is transferred through it.

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Conductivity

  • Some materials conduct thermal energy faster than others.
  • In general, good conductors of electricity like copper, aluminum, gold, and silver are also good heat conductors.
  • Insulators of electricity like wood, plastic, and rubber are poor heat conductors.
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Rate of heat transfer

  • The rate of conductive heat transfer through a slab of material is given by the equation:
    • Qt=kAΔTΔL\frac{Q}{t}=\frac{kA\Delta T}{\Delta L}
  • Where k is the thermal conductivity of the material, ΔT is the change in temperature, A is the surface area and ΔL is the thickness of the slab

Jump to other topics

1Space, Time & Motion

2The Particulate Nature of Matter

3Wave Behaviour

4Fields

4.1Circular Motion

4.2Newton's Law of Gravitation

4.3Fields

4.4Fields at Work

4.5Electric Fields

4.6Magnetic Effect of Electric Currents

4.7Heating Effect of Currents

4.8Electromagnetic Induction

4.9Power Generation & Transmission

4.10Capacitance

5Nuclear & Quantum Physics

6Measurements

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