Question

What is the rate of heat conduction through the 3.00-cm-thick fur of a large animal having a 1.40-m² surface area? Assume that the animal’s skin temperature is 32.0ºC, that the air temperature is −5.00ºC, and that fur has the same thermal conductivity as air.

a) 14.0 W
b) 20.0 W
c) 26.0 W
d) 32.0 W

Answer 1

The rate of heat conduction through the 3.00-cm-thick fur of a large animal is 26.0 W. Therefore, the correct answer is c) 26.0 W.

Step-by-step explanation:

The rate of heat conduction through the 3.00-cm-thick fur of the large animal can be calculated using the formula:

Rate of heat conduction (Q) = (Thermal conductivity) x (Surface area) x (Temperature difference) / (Thickness)

Since the fur has the same thermal conductivity as air, which is a low conductor of heat, we can assume the thermal conductivity to be similar to air (0.024 W/(m·K)). Using the given values:

Rate of heat conduction = (0.024 W/(m·K)) x (1.40 m²) x (32.0°C - -5.00°C) / (0.03 m)

Simplifying this equation gives a rate of heat conduction of 26.0 W.

Heat is a form of energy that can transfer between objects or systems due to a temperature difference. It flows spontaneously from a higher temperature region to a lower temperature region until thermal equilibrium is reached.