4.4.2

Conduction

Test yourself

Conduction

Heat energy can move through a solid by conduction. We can show this in 2 ways:

Illustrative background for WaterIllustrative background for Water ?? "content

Water

  • An ice cube is at one end of a test tube and water is at the other end of a test tube.
  • We can boil the water at one end without the ice cube melting.
  • This shows that water is a poor conductor of heat energy.
  • We say that water is a bad thermal conductor.
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Metal rods

  • Different metals conduct heat energy at different rates.
  • We place metals in boiling water at one end and put wax on the other end.
  • The wax that melts fastest will be attached to the metal that is the best thermal conductor.
  • Copper is a better thermal conductor than aluminium and iron.

Jump to other topics

1Forces & Motion

1.1Basics of Motion

1.2Forces

1.3Effects of Forces

1.4Stopping Distance

1.5Forces & Elasticity

2Electricity

3Waves

4Energy Resources & Energy Transfers

5Solids, Liquids & Gases

6Magnetism & Electromagnetism

7Radioactivity & Particles

8Astrophysics

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