Understanding Heat Transfer: Conduction in Solids

Conduction

The transfer of thermal energy through matter, from high to low temperature, without the movement of matter.

Heat (thermal) energy store

A commonly used form of energy that can be transferred through conduction, convection, and infrared radiation.

Thermal Conduction

The process by which hot particles vibrate more and collide with cooler particles, transferring thermal energy.

Thermal Source

An origin of heat that causes particles to gain energy and vibrate more.

Thermal conductivity

A material property that indicates how much thermal energy per second (J/s, or Watts) a substance can conduct.

Insulators

Materials that are bad conductors of heat and have low thermal conductivity.

Conductors

Materials that allow heat energy to transfer efficiently, with metals being excellent conductors.

Free electrons

Electrons in metals that can move freely and transfer energy by colliding with vibrating atoms.

Metallic Conductor

A type of conductor that allows energy transfer faster due to free electrons.

Key HEAT Processes

The main methods of heat transfer: conduction, convection (in fluids), and infrared radiation.

Non-metal solids

Materials that are usually poor heat conductors compared to metals.

Gases and liquids

States of matter that are really bad conductors of heat due to particles being much further apart.

Metal Strips Experiment

An investigation to determine if all metals conduct heat at the same speed and which is the best conductor.

Temperature difference

The variation in temperature across a material that affects the effectiveness of an insulator.

Thickness of material

A factor that influences the insulating properties of a material.

Thermal conductivity of the material

A characteristic that determines how well a material can conduct heat.

Wood vs Metal Spoon

Wood feels warmer than metal at room temperature because it does not transfer heat energy well.

Particle-to-particle transfer

The method of heat transfer in solids where hot particles collide with cooler neighbor particles.

Vibrating particles

Particles that gain energy and vibrate more when heated, contributing to thermal conduction.

Conclusion of Metal Strips Experiment

All metals are good conductors, but some are better than others based on their thermal conductivity.

Keeping warm in winter

An application of insulation to reduce heat loss from homes.

R-A-G

A method to update organizers with understanding of each topic.