Conduction

• Conduction = heat transfer by vibrating particles in a solid.
• Solids = good conductors of heat.
• CONDUCTION IN SOLIDS When a solid is heated (travels from hot to cold), the particles vibrate more as they gain kinetic energy - energy is transferred from one particle to the next as they collide.
• Metals = best conductors as they have free electrons that can move the energy quickly from the hot side to the cold.
• CONDUCTION IN METALS

  • Free electrons gain kinetic energy at the heated end of the metal. They move through metal colliding with ions passing on thermal energy.
• Air + gas = poor conductors as gave large gaps between particles and reduces the rate of collisions - very useful insulators.