Thermal Conduction (Cambridge O Level Physics)

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Thermal Conduction in Solids

  • Conduction is the main method of thermal energy transfer in solids
  • Conduction occurs when:

Two solids of different temperatures come in contact with one another, thermal energy is transferred from the hotter object to the cooler object

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

Thermal Conduction in a Metal

8-2-1-conduction_sl-physics-rn

Conduction: the atoms in a solid vibrate and bump into each other

  • 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

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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.