Heat and temperature ________________________________________________________________ 8. Thermal conductors and isolators.
The thermal conductivity of a substance is a measure of the ability of the substance to conduct heat.
We can distinguish between thermal conductors and thermal isolators
- Thermal conductors: materials with a high thermal conductivity can effectively transfer heat and readily take up heat from their environment. They quickly transfer thermal energy from one point to another. Examples: metals (silver, aluminum, cupper)
- Thermal isolators: materials with a low thermal conductivity, that transfer thermal energy slowly from one point to another. They resist heat flow and obtain heat slowly from their surroundings. Examples: wood, cork.
The video on the right shows how to conduct an experiment using different materials and ghee (clarified butter) to understand the conduction of heat by melting the ghee. Try it.