Have you ever wondered how heat travels through metals? The conduction of heat through solids—especially metals—is a fascinating phenomenon and a core concept in thermal physics. To understand it better, the students of grade 8 performed a simple yet effective heat conduction experiment using a metal rod.
Conduction is one of the three main methods of heat transfer (alongside convection and radiation). In solids, conduction occurs when particles transfer energy through direct contact. Metals, with their tightly packed atoms and mobile electrons, are the best conductors.
Understanding heat conduction helped the students to understand:
- Why metal spoons get hot when left in a pot?
- Why do cooking pans have plastic or wooden handles?
- Why do we use metal rods in heat exchangers and radiators?
