Conduction of Heat Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

How does the thermal conductivity of a material affect the rate of energy transfer by conduction across it?

The higher the thermal conductivity, the higher the rate of energy transfer by conduction.

How does the thickness of a building's walls affect its rate of cooling?

Thicker walls give a lower rate of energy transfer, so the building cools more slowly.

Which walls make a building cool fastest: walls of high or of low thermal conductivity?

Walls of high thermal conductivity — energy is conducted out at a greater rate.

Why does cavity wall insulation reduce the rate of energy transfer from a house?

The trapped air or foam has a low thermal conductivity, so energy is conducted out more slowly.

True or false? Thick walls of a low thermal conductivity material give the slowest rate of cooling.

True. Both greater thickness and lower thermal conductivity reduce the rate of energy transfer.