Heating and insulation

Good Insulator:

  • Have a low thermal conductivity

  • Are thick

  • The greater the thermal conductivity the more thermal energy a material will transfer per second by conduction

  • Heat transfers are most quickly when the temperature differences are high

An object that is hotter than the surroundings should be wrapped in foil to reflect heat radiation back to the hot object

Conduction- Direct Contact

Radiation- Through a vacuum

Vacuum Flask:

Conduction

  • Vacuum

Radiation

  • Reflective surface