Which one of the following is the better insulator? Why?
cotton balls
papper
sand
cotton fabric
wood chips
2006-08-28 11:10:11 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Cotton balls - more trapped pockets of air slows heat loss...
2006-08-28 11:17:08 · answer #1 · answered by JackJester 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cotton balls
They are basically the same material as paper, wood chips and cotton fabric; cellulose. This is a very good insulator. Their added advantage is the trapped pockets of air.
Air is an even better insulator, but it transmits heat but convectional currents, this they can't do when trapped.
Glass and ceramics (made from sand) are used as insulators because of the added advantage of strength and resistance to chemicals, weather and durability.
but cotton balls are still better as insulators although they absorb moisture which reduce their electrical and heat insulation ability
2006-09-02 01:05:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
wood chips is the best insulator of all the above,it is a poor heat conductor.
sand is also a poor heat conductor but it retains the heat for longest period-it does not dissipate the heat fast, so it is not a better insulator of heat.
cotton balls,paper and cotton fabric will reach their fire point at low temperatures itself, so they are poor insulators.
2006-09-04 23:31:41 · answer #3 · answered by kailash s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hello,
Of these choices I would say the cottom fabric would be the better insulator. None of them are excellent choices as they all allow too much ambient moisture to reach the conductor. Fabric was used years ago as a fire retardant/abrasion resistant in combination with rubber/plastic insulation in electrical cable know as range cable. It is still found in use in older homes, but is no longer accepted for residential wiring.
2006-09-04 09:24:32 · answer #4 · answered by exert-7 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you asking insulator of heat?
If so,SAND is the answer. Majority safe use sand as an heat insulator.
Don't ask me why, Try to burn the subjects which you mentioned.
Any thing cannot be burnt will be the best.
2006-09-04 22:16:03 · answer #5 · answered by ALONG 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sand probly if you mean an electrical insulator, glass is used as a industrial insulator, and glass is made out sand.
2006-08-28 11:17:36 · answer #6 · answered by Black Sabbath 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sand,is used in concrete and glass and would absorb better.
2006-09-04 00:51:59 · answer #7 · answered by Rather be dead than red... 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cotton balls
2016-05-06 17:59:52 · answer #8 · answered by john 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your willy
2006-08-29 01:46:18 · answer #9 · answered by dch921 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋