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: [[Non-metal]]s usually make the best '''thermal insulators'''.
: [[Metal]]s make poor '''thermal insulators'''.
: Gases [[Gas]]es make good '''thermal insulators'''. ==Key Stage 4=====Meaning===A '''thermal insulator''' is a [[material]] with a low [[Thermal Conductivity|thermal conductivity]]. ===About Thermal Insulators===: '''Thermal insulators''' can be used to prevent [[object]]s from changing [[temperature]].: Good '''thermal insulation''' around a house can help to keep the contents warm in [[winter]] and cool in [[summer]]. ===Thermal Insulators and Energy Transfer===: When two [[object]]s close to one another are at different [[temperature]]s [[energy]] will be [[Energy Transfer|transferred]] from the hotter [[object]] to the cooler one until they are both the same [[temperature]]. They are said to be in [[Thermal Equilibrium|thermal equilibrium]].: '''Thermal insulators''' can reduce the rate at which [[energy]] is [[Energy Transfer|transferred]] between [[object]]s of different [[temperature]].The effectiveness of a '''thermal insulator''' is affected by two factors:*[[Thermal Conductivity]] - The lower the [[Thermal Conductivity|thermal conductivity]] the better the [[material]] is as an '''insulator'''.*Thickness - The thicker the [[material]] the better it will be at reducing [[Energy Transfer|energy transfer]].