Thermal Conductivity
Contents
Key Stage 2
Meaning
Thermal Conductivity is how quickly a material can be heated or cooled.
===About Electrical Conductivity===b
- If a material can change temperature quickly it is a thermal conductor.
- If a material changes temperature slowly it is a thermal insulator.
Examples
| Metals |
 |
| All metals make good thermal conductors. |
| Plastic | Rubber | Air | Brick |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Note to Teachers
In science, heat is not generally considered a noun. It is a verb. Heat is something you do to an object. It is best practice to avoid making statements like 'heat passes through a material quickly' because heat is not a physical entity, but an action or process. A thermal conductor allows thermal energy to pass through it easily. A thermal conductor can be heated quickly.
Key Stage 3
Meaning
Thermal Conductivity is how quickly thermal energy can be transferred through an object.
About Electrical Conductivity
- If a material can change temperature quickly when heated it is a thermal conductor.
- If a material changes temperature slowly when heated it is a thermal insulator.
Extra Information
Key Stage 4
Meaning
Thermal Conductivity is how quickly thermal energy can be transferred through an object.
About Electrical Conductivity
- If a material can change temperature quickly when heated it is a thermal conductor.
- If a material changes temperature slowly when heated it is a thermal insulator.
References
AQA
- Thermal conductivity, of metallic substances, page 161, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA
- Thermal conductivity, page 16, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
- Thermal conductivity, page 173, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Thermal conductivity, pages 15, 16, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Thermal conductivity, pages 34, 341, GCSE Chemistry; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Thermal conductivity, pages 34, 36, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Physics, CGP, AQA
- Thermal conductivity, pages 35, 37, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA
Edexcel
- Thermal conductivity, page 159, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Thermal conductivity, page 27, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Thermal conductivity, page 38, GCSE Physics, Pearson Edexcel
- Thermal conductivity, pages 69, 70, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel
- Thermal conductivity; energy stores, page 61, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel
- Thermal conductivity; expansion, pages 187, 188, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel
- Thermal conductivity; imaging, page 133, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel
- Thermal conductivity; insulation, pages 69, 70, 306, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel