Thermal conduction is the transfer of heat energy from hot to cold objects without movement. Particles with high thermal energy move faster and transfer energy to slower-moving particles until thermal equilibrium is reached. Thermal conductivity is the rate at which heat is transferred, with metals being better conductors than non-metals. Electrons are efficient conductors of heat and electricity in metals due to their ability to move around and transfer energy to nearby electrons.
Thermal conduction refers to the transfer of heat energy due to an object having different temperatures. For thermal energy to be transferred using conduction, there should be no movement of the object as a whole. Thermal energy always moves from the one with the highest concentration to the one with the lowest concentration, i.e. from hot to cold. Therefore, if one part of an object is hot, the heat will transfer via thermal conduction to the cooler part of that object. Thermal conduction will also take place if two different objects of different temperatures touch each other.
The particles, such as atoms and molecules, of an object with high thermal energy will move faster than those of an object with low thermal energy. When the particles are heated, they can move and bump against each other, thus transferring energy. In the case of many solids, the particles vibrate faster, causing the surrounding particles to vibrate. As heat energy is transferred, faster-moving particles will slow down, thus becoming colder, and slower-moving particles will move faster, thus becoming hotter. This will continue until the object reaches thermal equilibrium.
An example of thermal conduction is a metal pan on the stove. The heat source particles will move and transfer heat energy to the metal particles, making them move faster. As the particles in the pan move faster, the pan gets hotter. Additionally, the particles in the pot will transfer their heat to the food or liquid inside the pot. This allows the food to cook or the liquid to boil.
The rate at which an object transfers heat by conduction is called thermal conductivity. An object with low conductivity will transfer heat more slowly than an object with high conductivity. This is why some substances are used as insulators while others are used in applications such as cooking. In general, solids are better conductors of heat than liquids and gases. Also, metals are generally better thermal conductors than non-metallic substances.
Thermal conduction caused by the movement of electrons is more efficient than conduction caused by vibrations. The reason metals are such good conductors of both heat and electricity is because they have many electrons that are able to move around. Electrons, however, generally don’t travel very far when they conduct heat energy, but rather collide and transfer heat energy to other nearby electrons which can then collide and transfer heat energy to other electrons close to them. The result is an efficient method of energy transfer that gives these substances high thermal conductivity.
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