Demonstrating Conduction (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award)): Revision Note

Thermal conductors

Good and bad thermal conductors

• Good thermal conductors are solids which easily transfer heat

  • For example; a metal pan or a ceramic tea cup

  • Almost all metals are good thermal conductors

• Bad thermal conductors (also called insulators) are solids which do not transfer heat well

  • For example; a wool blanket or layers of cardboard or paper

  • Non-metals or organic materials (from plants or animals) are often poor thermal conductors