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Lesson: Chapter 9 — Heat

9.5. Heat transfer and conduction 3 of 3

Conduction along a rod

Think of a metal rod with end A held in a flame.

Figure to be added

Figure 9.28 — heat flowing along a metal rod from end A to end B: vibrating atoms and moving free electrons.
  1. The atoms at the heated end vibrate with a larger amplitude, and the free electrons there move faster.
  2. Those atoms collide with their neighbours and pass energy on, so the neighbours vibrate a little more.
  3. This repeats from A to B, carrying heat along the rod.
  4. The fast-moving free electrons also carry heat along the rod.