Question

Define thermal conductivity of a material. What is its SI unit? A cubical thermocol box, full of ice, has side 50cm and thickness of 4.0cm. If outside temperature is 40 degree C, find the amount of ice melted in five hours when the thermal conductivity of thermocol is 0.01 Js-1m-1C and latent heat of fusion of ice is 335Jg-1

Answer 1

Every object has its own capacity to conduct heat.  To determine how much it is we use this term. Thermal conductivity (λ or k) is the capacity of the body to conduct or spread heat. 

thermal conductivity is k in W/m K,
the amount of heat transfer through the material is Q in J/S or W,
the area of the body is A in m2,
the difference in temperature is ΔT  in K.



The dimension of thermal conductivity is
M1L1T−3Θ−1. These variables are mass (M), length (L), time (T), and temperature (Θ).