Name
Structured Questions: Conduction of Heat
This exercise is about the conduction of heat energy. You will describe how heat moves from one object
to another and how it travels through conductors and insulators.
1
Circle the materials that are good conductors of heat.
Wood
Nylon
Gold
Iron
Aluminium
Copper
Tin
Paper
Plastic
2
Copy the text below and fill in the missing words. You can choose from the words below.
Heat always travels from hot to _____.
Thermal energy travels through the bottom of a pan by _____________
All metals are good ______________
Plastics, wood, water and air are non-metals. They are poor __________.
Non-metals are called ____________.
Trapped ____ is a very good insulator.
If you put a hot object and a cold object together, they will eventually reach the _____ temperature.
We say the objects are in __________equilibrium.
conduction
conductors
insulators
air
conductors
cold
thermal
same
© Smart Learning Ltd 2015
http://smart-learning.co.uk/teachers-club/teachers-club-science/
1
Teachers’ Club Science – Structured questions
Form/Class
Teachers’ Club Science
Physics
Form/Class
Teachers’ Club Science – Structured questions
Teachers’ Club Science
Physics
3
Name
The following statements are all about heat transfer by conduction. Decide which statements are
true and which statements are false. If they are false, explain why the answer is not correct.
a Heat always travels from hot to cold places.
true / false
b Metals conduct heat by passing on the vibrations from one atom to the next.
true / false
c Some metals are better conductors than others.
true / false
d An insulator allows no heat to travel through it whatsoever.
true / false
e Trapped air is a very good insulator.
true / false
4
We often have loft insulation in our houses in order to prevent
heat loss through the roof. It is usually made of fibrous materials.
Explain why.
5
Explain the following:
a Metal cooking pans often have wooden handles.
b Copper or aluminium pans are better than iron ones.
c Metal objects feel cold to touch compared with non-metals.
d Sheets of newspaper can be used to keep ice cream cold and keep fish and chips hot.
e Two thin blankets are usually warmer than one thick one.
f A carpet feels warmer to bare feet than a tiled floor.
g A duvet, which has feathers inside it, helps to keep you warm.
6
Explain how heat energy conducts more quickly through a metal
compared to a non-metal. Explain how heat is transferred from
particle to particle in each case. Use the following words in your
answer:
conduction
2
atoms
vibrations
free electrons
http://smart-learning.co.uk/teachers-club/teachers-club-science/
© Smart Learning Ltd 2015
Name
BONUS BOFFIN TASKS!
1
Dave the dad is in charge of Sunday lunch. He realises that he forgot to get the chicken out of the
freezer to defrost the night before. It will never be ready in time! Dave comes up with a cunning plan.
He decides to wrap the frozen chicken in lots of jumpers and coats to get it to defrost quickly. Will
Dave’s plan work? Explain your reasoning.
2
Using text books or by researching online, explain how
heat loss through conduction is prevented in your
homes. Make a big colourful poster to explain your
findings. (Hint: Think of loft insulation, lagging boilers,
double glazing and cavity wall insulation)
3
Use the table on the right to answer the following
questions:
a Which material is the best insulator?
b Why does double-glazing often have argon gas
trapped between the layers of glass instead of air?
c How many times better is steel at conduction
compared to paper?
d Your freezer has broken! Which material from the list would you wrap your food in, to stop it from
defrosting?
© Smart Learning Ltd 2015
http://smart-learning.co.uk/teachers-club/teachers-club-science/
3
Teachers’ Club Science – Structured questions
Form/Class
Teachers’ Club Science
Physics