Question

Answer each of the following questions regarding energy and heat transfer: ​1. Explain why it is important to understand conductors. ​2. Give a real world example where thermal conductors are used. ​3. Explain why it is important to understand insulators. ​4. Give a real world example where thermal insulators are used. ​5. Suppose you do not have electricity or gas for heating up food and you are hungry. Explain what would you do to maximize thermal energy transfer in this situation to safely cook you something to eat.

Answer 1

Conduction is the transfer of thermal energy between particles of matter that are touching. Thermal conduction occurs when particles of warmer matter bump into particles of cooler matter and transfer some of their thermal energy to the cooler particles. Conduction is usually faster in certain solids and liquids than in gases. Materials that are good conductors of thermal energy are called thermal conductors. Metals are especially good thermal conductors because they have freely moving electrons that can transfer thermal energy quickly and easily.