Timeline for What is the difference between thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
4 events
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| Nov 8, 2021 at 18:56 | comment | added | Steeven | @HarshitRajput ... Such a measure is what we call thermal diffusivity: $$\alpha=\frac{\kappa}{\rho\cdot C}.$$ With this measure we can compare different materials across densities and heat capacities. The higher the $\alpha$, the faster will the temperature rise throughout the material when a temperature difference is set up on either side. | |
| Nov 8, 2021 at 18:56 | comment | added | Steeven | @HarshitRajput A material with a high thermal conductivity, $\kappa$, will suck in and absorb a lot of heat each second. But it might not heat up that fast. The absorbed energy might be spread over large amounts of the material (when the mass concentration, i.e. the density, $\rho$, is high) and might be absorbed in a high heat capacity, $C$ (how much energy each "portion" of the material can "carry" before heating up"). These factors will dampen the temperature increase. If you divide $\rho$ and $C$ away, then you thus have a measure that takes these factors "out"... | |
| Nov 8, 2021 at 18:20 | comment | added | Harshit Rajput | Can you please explain 'is how well the material passes on a temperature change', may be with an example? Thank You | |
| Nov 3, 2021 at 17:51 | history | answered | Steeven | CC BY-SA 4.0 |