Conduction and Convection

Vocabulary flashcards defining thermal conductors, insulators, conduction, delocalised electrons, convection, and fluids based on the provided physics lecture notes.

What is a thermal conductor?

A material that lets heat move through it easily, such as steel and aluminium.

What is a thermal insulator?

A material that does not let heat move through it easily, such as plastic, wood, and air.

How does heat transfer occur through conduction?

Heated particles vibrate more and bump into neighboring particles, passing along kinetic energy.

Why are metals particularly efficient at conducting heat?

They have free delocalised electrons that move between atoms and transfer kinetic energy rapidly.

How does convection occur in fluids?

Warmer, less dense fluid rises and cooler, denser fluid sinks. Creating a convection current

What are fluids in the context of heat transfer?

Liquids and gases, which are the states of matter where convection happens.