PHYSICS

HEAT TRANSFER

CONDUCTIO
N

1.1 Conduction
Heat is an interesting form of energy. Not only does it sustain life, make us comfortable and
help us prepare our food, but understanding its properties is key to many fields of scientific
research. For example, knowing how heat is transferred and the degree to which different
materials can exchange thermal energy governs everything from building heaters and
understanding seasonal change to sending ships into space.
Heat can only be transferred through three means: conduction, convection and radiation.
Of these, conduction is perhaps the most common, and occurs regularly in nature. In short,
it is the transfer of heat through physical contact. It occurs when you press your hand onto
a window pane, when you place a pot of water on an active element, and when you place
an iron in the fire.
This transfer occurs at the molecular level from one body to another when heat
energy is absorbed by a surface and causes the molecules of that surface to move more
quickly. In the process, they bump into their neighbours and transfer the energy to them, a
process which continues as long as heat is still being added.

Heat Conduction Through Solids Lattice

Conduction
The molecules in a solid vibrate about
their own equilibrium positions at
room temperature. The vibrations of
the molecules approximate simple
harmonic motion. At the hot end of
solid, the molecules with more thermal
energy vibrate vigorously with greater
amplitude. The molecules impart the
vibrations to adjacent molecules via
intermolecular
forces
between
molecules. The hotter molecules
collide with colder molecules. As a
result, energy is transferred from the
molecules at the hotter region to
colder region.

Collision of Electrons
When a solid is heated at one end, the atoms
there vibrate more vigorously. The free electrons
which collide with these atoms gain kinetic
energy. The free electrons with greater kinetic
energy collide with slow moving electrons and
others atoms from the colder region. As a result,
some energy is transferred to slower moving
electrons. Energy is transferred from hotter
region to the colder region of solid though
random collision of electrons. This method of
heat transfer is known as electronic conduction.
Since electrons are lighter and move faster, the
transfer of energy though electronic conduction
is greater and faster compared to lattice
conduction. A good conductor of heat is also a
good conductor of electricity. Metal conduct
heat though lattice vibration and collisions of
free electrons. Non-metals conduct heat
through lattice vibration only since it has no free
electrons, therefore, non-metals are generally
poor heat conductors.

In metals, not only do the atoms vibrate more when heated, but the
free electrons charge around more as well. These transfer the energy
much faster than just vibrations in bonds.

Difference between lattice conduction and electronic

conduction

Lattice Conduction

Electronic Conduction

Involve vibration of molecules

Involves free moving electrons

Molecules vibrate at equilibrium positions

only

Electrons move from one place to another

Fast

Slow
Occurs only in metals
Occurs in metals and non-metals

Defining Thermal Conductivity

The process of heat conduction
depends on four basic factors:
the temperature gradient, the
cross section of the materials
involved, their path length, and
the properties of those materials.

Defining Thermal Conductivity

The temperature, , at both ends were maintained.
The thickness of metal is d, now x
Cross section area of metal block is A.
Temperature difference is
So the instantaneous temperature gradient at any point =
the rate of change in temperature with distance along the
block
=

==-

Picture of a block of metal between

two hot and cold object and
insulated from its surroundings.

The unit for temperature gradient is or

* The temperature gradient has negative sign is due to that
the
temperature decreases as the distance x increases.

Defining Thermal Conductivity

The rate of heat transfer perpendicular the cross section
area, A depends on 3 criteria
1 The temperature gradient, - ( The greater the magnitude
of
temperature gradient, the greater the rate of heat flow )
2 The cross section area, A ( The larger the cross section
are, the

the greater the rate of heat flow )
Picture of a block of metal between
two hot and cold object and
insulated from its surroundings.

3 The material of the solid ( Iron is a better conductor than

a brick.
Hence, the rate of heat flow is greater in iron compared
to that
of brick )

Defining Thermal Conductivity

Threfore,

A
Combining the
above equation,
Picture of a block of metal between
two hot and cold object and
insulated from its surroundings.

k = thermal conductivity of the

material.
The equation is also known as Fouriers
Law.
From the equation,

k=
Hence thermal conductivity, k is defined as the
negative rate of heat flow per unit area
perpendicular to the flow per unit temperature
gradient. The unit for k is W

Defining Thermal Conductivity

Thermal conductivity is the ability of heat transferring heat though an object.
As saw from Fouriers Law, the larger the value of k, the larger the value of
/ while other factor being constant.
Therefore, good conductor of heat such as metals have higher value of k.
Weaker conductor of heat have a lower value of k.
In some cases, while some metals was heated, the value k decreases slightly.

Defining Thermal Conductivity

Thermal conductivities for different materials.

Thermal Conduction in
Perfectly Insulated Rod

Thermal Conduction in Perfectly Insulated

Rod
M

Rod

Insulation

Heat flow (uniform

and parallel to each
other)

The temperature at M and N are maintained at

and accordingly, and
The temperature at different points of rod are
changing with time.
The rate of heat flow is constant at every point
along the rod.
According to Fouriers Law, the magnitude of is a
constant since k, A and / are constant.
In this case
0, since
From equation
=

), ( )

For rod of length L with a uniform cross section

area A and constant heat flow, then
), ( )

THERMAL RESISTANCE
What sorcery is this?
Thermal resistance is a heat property and a measurement of a
temperature difference by which an object or material resists a
heat flow.

Thermal Resistance
Thermal resistance along a conductor is very similar to the flow of charge
in an electrical conductor.
Potential difference is needed for electric charge to flow;
Temperature difference is needed for heat to flow.
Hence, analogous quantities for the 2 flows can be ascertained by
comparing the equations.

Thermal Resistance

So, rate of heat flow,

flow,

Rate of electric charge

Heat flow Q along a rod of

length L

=
=
Thus, is analogous to V and is analogous to R.
The term is known as thermal resistance .
The unit for is K
Finally, the rate of heat flow can also be written
as
.

Thermal Conduction in a Non-Insulated Rod

The two ends of the rod are maintained at
temperature and respectively. ( ).
Some heat escapes from the sides of the
rod into the surrounding.
As such, the rate of heat flow decreases as
x increase along the rod.
The temperature decreases as x increases
along the rod
From
(k and A are constants),
as decreases, the temperature gradient
also decreases as x increases along the
rod.
Temperature fall is the steepest at the hot
end.

Describing and Calculating Heat

Conduction Through a Cross-Section
Area of Layers of Different Materials

Heat Conduction through Layers of Different

Materials

Tout = -10
C

IC
E

1.0cm

WOOD

10 cm

Tin = 25 C

Kwood = 0.2 W/(mK)

Kice = 2 W/(mK)

Calculating Heat Conduction through Layers of Different

Materials

Calculating Heat Conduction through Layers

of Different Materials
Given that cross-sectional area is 1.0 m2 Find the rate of heat flow.

dQ temperature difference

dt total thermal resistance

dQ Tin Tout

where i 1, 2, 3, ......, n
dt
li

ki A
25 (10)

0.01 0.1

2 1 0.2 1
69 W

THE END

It is me, or it is hot right

here?