See Also: thermal conduction(encyclopedia)
thermal(dictionary)
Thermal(medicine)
thermal conductivity(medicine)
thermal velocity(medicine)
thermal spectrum(medicine)
thermal barrier(medicine)
thermal anaesthesia(medicine)
thermal sensors(medicine)
thermal sense(medicine)

thermal conduction (sh)




Transfer of heat energy resulting from differences in temperature between adjacent bodies or adjacent parts of a body.

In the absence of a heat pump, the energy will flow from a region of higher temperature to a region of lower temperature. The transfer of energy occurs as a result of collision among the particles of the matter involved. The rate of transfer of energy is proportional to the cross-sectional area of contact and to the difference in temperature between the two regions. A substance of high thermal conductivity, such as copper, is a good thermal conductor; one with low thermal conductivity, such as wood, is a poor thermal conductor. See also convection, radiation.