Thermal Insulation Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

What is a thermal insulator?

A material that is a poor conductor of thermal energy, so it reduces the rate of energy transfer.

Name three ways of reducing unwanted energy transfer from a house.

Loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and double glazing (also draught excluders, thicker walls, carpets).

What property of cavity wall insulation reduces energy transfer through a wall?

It traps air in foam or fibre, which is a poor conductor and stops convection currents in the cavity.

How do the thickness and thermal conductivity of a wall affect the rate of energy transfer through it?

Thicker walls and a lower thermal conductivity both give a slower rate of energy transfer.

True or false? Double glazing reduces energy transfer because the air gap between the panes is a poor conductor.

True. Trapped air (or a vacuum) between the panes slows conduction through the window.