Thermal Conduction (CIE IGCSE Physics: Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award))

Revision Note

Dan MG

Author

Dan MG

Last updated

Did this video help you?

Thermal conduction in solids

Extended tier only

  • Conduction is the transfer of heat from one region to another through particle vibrations and the movement of free electrons
  • Conduction is the main method of thermal energy transfer in solids

  • Metals are the best thermal conductors
    • This is because they have a high number of free electrons

8-2-1-conduction_sl-physics-rn

Conduction: the atoms in a solid vibrate and collide, transferring energy

  • Conduction can occur through two mechanisms:
    • Atomic vibrations
    • Free electron collisions

  • When a substance is heated, the atoms, or ions, start to move around (vibrate) more
    • The atoms at the hotter end of the solid will vibrate more than the atoms at the cooler end
    • As they do so they bump into each other, transferring energy from atom to atom
    • These collisions transfer internal energy until thermal equilibrium is achieved throughout the substance
    • This occurs in all solids, metals and non-metals alike

  • Additionally, if a solid contains free electrons, these can travel through the material freely and transfer thermal energy through collisions

You've read 0 of your 5 free revision notes this week

Sign up now. It’s free!

Join the 100,000+ Students that ❤️ Save My Exams

the (exam) results speak for themselves:

Did this page help you?

Dan MG

Author: Dan MG

Expertise: Physics

Dan graduated with a First-class Masters degree in Physics at Durham University, specialising in cell membrane biophysics. After being awarded an Institute of Physics Teacher Training Scholarship, Dan taught physics in secondary schools in the North of England before moving to SME. Here, he carries on his passion for writing enjoyable physics questions and helping young people to love physics.