How do metals conduct heat?

Answer 1

Metals have a much higher thermal conductivity than similar non-metals. This is because, in addition to the transport of heat by atomic vibration, heat is also carried very efficiently by the mobile electrons. The electrons in a metal create something called an electron gas, and this gas actually has a temperature. The electrons in this gas are free to move around carrying heat with them, and the electron gas heats the bulk of the metal.

Note that it is not the individual electrons which are "hot", it is the statistical properties of huge numbers of electrons all moving at once that leads to us calling the electron gas "hot". In a hot electron gas, some electrons are in a higher energy state than they need to be because there are empty quantum states at lower energies that can accept them. The electrons can drop into those states by giving up some kinetic energy to an atomic nucleus, effecitvely injecting heat into the system at that point. When you heat up one part of the metal, that heat kicks electrons out of their lowest energy states, making a hole that another electron can drop into, and the effect is that heat is moved from one part of the metal to another.

Non-metallic solids do not have this electron gas conduction mechanism, so thermal conductivity in those substances is generally much lower.

Answer 2

conduction.

"Heat transfer is always directed from a higher to a lower temperature. Denser substances are usually better conductors; metals are excellent conductors.

The law of heat conduction, also known as Fourier's law, states that the time rate of heat flow Q through a slab (or a portion of a perfectly insulated wire, as shown in the figure) is proportional to the gradient of temperature difference:

dQ/dt ~ kA dT/dt

A is the transversal surface area, Δx is the thickness of the body of matter through which the heat is passing, k is a conductivity constant dependent on the nature of the material and its temperature, and ΔT is the temperature difference through which the heat is being transferred. This law forms the basis for the derivation of the heat equation. R-value is the unit for heat resistance, the reciprocal of the conductance. Ohm's law is the electrical analogue of Fourier's law."

Answer 3

Metals are both good electrical conductors and good conductors of heat. Could that be a relationship? Could that be the free electrons that transfer energy from one atom of metal to the other? Also I suspect that that the same property that allows them to have these free electrons is responsible for transfer of energy from one atom to the next along the heat conduction path. It is possible that the in the heat conduction in metals both electrons and photons are involved.

Answer 4

Metals have free electrons and therefore it is easy for metals to conduct heat by the motion of electrons.

Answer 5

Conduction ... the molecules pass on heat from one end o the other.

Answer 6

Heat is vibrational energy of particles in a substance. If you have something dense, like a metal, a single vibrating particle will cause the particle next to it to vibrate, etc.

Answer 7

all metals are good conductors

Answer 8

With a fire proof baton.