can any one explain what is thermal conductivity?

Answer 1

It's a material characteristic that defines it's ability to conduct heat. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_conductivity

Answer 2

It's analogous to electrical conductance (the reciprocal of electrical resistance). Resistance, 'resists' electrical current. The reciprocal, conductance (units: Mhos or Siemens) is the ability of a material to conduct current. In bulk material conductivity is measured in Mhos/m^2 (cross sectional area).

For heat, thermal conductivity is the ability of a material to pass heat energy through (or the lack of it).

Metals have high thermal conductivity. Fiberglass insulation would have very poor thermal conductivity.

Thermal conductivity is measured in Watts / cm * K

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Answer 3

In physics, thermal conductivity, k, is the intensive property of a material that indicates its ability to conduct heat.

It is defined as the quantity of heat, Q, transmitted in time t through a thickness L, in a direction normal to a surface of area A, due to a temperature difference ΔT, under steady state conditions and when the heat transfer is dependent only on the temperature gradient.

thermal conductivity = heat flow rate × distance / (area × temperature difference)

k={Q/{t }x{L/{A\Delta T}

Alternately, it can be thought of as a flux of heat (energy per unit area per unit time) divided by a temperature gradient (temperature difference per unit length)

Answer 4

you add heat (thermal energy) to say a rod of metal,
this energy transfers to the first metal atom,
this energised atom start to vibrate (kinetic energy) against the next atom causing friction (thermal energy),
This in turn energises that atom... vibrate... heat...vibrate...heat and so on ^_^

thermal conductivity is the ability to transfer heat though a material.

Answer 5

Polystyrene has voids packed with trapped air which offer it low thermal conductivity. This makes it suitable as a structure fabric and it really is for this reason each so often utilized in structural insulated panel construction structures. it really is likewise used as insulation in construction structures, as molded packing fabric for cushioning fragile equipment interior packing bins, as packing "peanuts", as non-weight-bearing architectural structures (which incorporates pillars), and also in crafts and style construction, truly architectural fashions. Foamed between 2 sheets of paper, it makes a extra-uniform change for corrugated cardboard.

Answer 6

It is the same as electrical conductivity in many respects, except instead of electrical current flow, you have heat current flow.

Answer 7

Themal conductivity is the property of material to conduct heat from it . its typically high on metals ,

Answer 8

It's the ability of heat to move through a material.

Answer 9

it is a gradient for heat transfer.

it is used to measure heat transfer via conduction. convection even by radiation