Which is the best thermal conductor?
Important Questions on Heat in Everyday Life
Define the following terms:
Conduction of heat
The following diagram shows an experiment to investigate the heat conductivity of three rods made of different metals. A cork is attached on each rod by was.
The results of the experiment are shown in the following table
| Type of rod | Time taken for the cork to drop |
| Steel | |
| Copper | |
| Brass |
What would you expect for the time taken for the cork to drop if a glass rod is used? Explain.
The following diagram shows an experiment to investigate the heat conductivity of three rods made of different metals. A cork is attached on each rod by was.
The results of the experiment are shown in the following table
| Type of rod | Time taken for the cork to drop |
| Steel | |
| Copper | |
| Brass |
Arrange, in an increasing order, the ability of heat conduction of these three materials.
The following diagram shows an experiment to investigate the heat conductivity of three rods made of different metals. A cork is attached on each rod by was.
The results of the experiment are shown in the following table
| Type of rod | Time taken for the cork to drop |
| Steel | |
| Copper | |
| Brass |
From the results, what conclusion can you make about the heat conductivity of different metals?
A utensil, which is made of thick copper base, is placed on the gas burner to heat up water in it.
a) Describe briefly how heat is transferred:
i) From gas burner to water.
Give reason for the following:
The metal knob feels colder than the wooden knob at the same temperature.
