Conduction Quiz
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5 questions, one answer each
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1. What is thermal conduction?
- A. A. The movement of a heated liquid or gas from one place to another
- B. B. The transfer of thermal energy through a substance, from particle to particle, without the substance moving
- C. C. The emission of infrared radiation from a hot object
- D. D. The change of a solid into a liquid
2. In an experiment using rods of copper, glass and wood coated with wax, which rod's wax is expected to melt first when all rods are heated equally?
- A. A. The wood rod
- B. B. The glass rod
- C. C. The copper rod
- D. D. All three melt at the same time
3. What mechanism allows conduction to occur in ALL solids, including non-metals?
- A. A. Free electrons moving through the material
- B. B. Convection currents within the solid
- C. C. Vibration of particles in the lattice, passed to neighbouring particles
- D. D. Emission of infrared radiation between particles
4. Explain why metals are much better thermal conductors than non-metallic solids.
- A. A. Metals are always hotter to begin with
- B. B. Metals have free (delocalised) electrons that move quickly through the structure, carrying energy with them, in addition to lattice vibration
- C. C. Metals have no particle vibration at all
- D. D. Metals have a lower density than non-metals
5. A woollen jumper feels warm partly because of trapped air between the fibres. Explain, in terms of particles, why this trapped air helps to reduce heat loss from the body.
- A. A. Air is a gas with particles far apart and no fixed lattice, so vibrations cannot pass efficiently between them, making it a poor conductor
- B. B. Air contains many free electrons that block heat
- C. C. Air conducts heat extremely well, so it quickly carries heat away from the skin
- D. D. Trapped air increases convection currents, which speeds up heat loss