Question

The type of material is a factor that affects heat conductivity.  Thermal insulators slow down heat conduction, and thermal conductors allow rapid heat conduction.

 What types of materials are thermal insulators?  What types of materials are thermal conductors?  Give one or two examples of each.

Answer 1

1) Thermal insulators are materials that slow down heat conductions, so they are used to prevent heat from going from one environment to another (for example, they are used in the walls of the houses, the keep the heat inside the house (in winter) or outside the house (in summer).
Examples of thermal insulators are fiberglass, plastic and air.

2) Thermal conductors are materials that allow rapid heat conduction, so they are used to transfer heat from one place to another.
Examples of thermal conductors are metals, for example silver and gold.