Difference between revisions of "Thermal Insulator"

Revision as of 20:07, 2 February 2019

A thermal insulator is a material that does not allow thermal energy through easily by conduction.

Non-metals usually make the best thermal insulators.

Metals make poor thermal insulators.

Gases make good thermal insulators.

A thermal insulator is a material with a low thermal conductivity.

Thermal insulators can be used to prevent objects from changing temperature.

Good thermal insulation around a house can help to keep the contents warm in winter and cool in summer.

When two objects close to one another are at different temperatures energy will be 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 insulators can reduce the rate at which energy is transferred between objects of different temperature.

The effectiveness of a thermal insulator is affected by two factors:

Thermal Conductivity - The lower the thermal conductivity the better the material is as an insulator.
Thickness - The thicker the material the better it will be at reducing energy transfer.

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 : [[Non-metal]]s usually make the best '''thermal insulators'''.
 : [[Metal]]s make poor '''thermal insulators'''.
-: Gases make good '''thermal insulators'''.
+: [[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]].