Conduction of Heat (Edexcel GCSE Physics)

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Factors Affecting Conduction

 

  • Thermal conduction is the process where energy is transferred by vibrating particles in a substance
  • The vibrating particles transfer energy from their kinetic store to the kinetic store of neighbouring particles

  • The direction of energy transfer is always from hot to cold

The higher the thermal conductivity of a material, the higher the rate of energy transfer by conduction across the material

  • Materials with high thermal conductivity heat up faster than materials with low thermal conductivity

Materials with high and low thermal conductivity

 

  • Objects will continue to lose heat until they reach thermal equilibrium (equal temperature) with their surroundings
    • For example, a mug of hot coffee will cool down until it reaches room temperature

     

 

  • Conduction is the main method of energy transfer by heating in solids
    • Metals are extremely good thermal conductors

  • Non-metals are poor thermal conductors whilst liquids and gases are extremely poor
    • Poor conductors are called insulators 

 

2-3-1-demo-thermal-conduction-feet-on-rug-with-note-cie-igcse-23-rn

Energy is transferred by heating from the hotter foot to the cooler tiles by conduction

 

 

  • Factors affecting thermal conduction are:
    • The thickness of the material
    • The thermal conductivity of the material
    • The temperature difference between two areas of the material (for example the internal and external surfaces of a wall)

 

  • The rate of energy transfer is reduced by:
    • Increasing the thickness of the material
    • Decreasing the thermal conductivity of the material
    • Decreasing the temperature difference

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Leander

Author: Leander

Expertise: Physics

Leander graduated with First-class honours in Science and Education from Sheffield Hallam University. She won the prestigious Lord Robert Winston Solomon Lipson Prize in recognition of her dedication to science and teaching excellence. After teaching and tutoring both science and maths students, Leander now brings this passion for helping young people reach their potential to her work at SME.