Specific Heat : Conductor vs Insulator

Specific Heat : Conductor vs Insulator

By MARCUS KIRKLAND

An insulator is a material that does NOT allow heat/electricity flow through it very well.
These objects tend to keep heat in or keep heat out.

Insulator

A conductor is material that allows heat/electricity flow through it very well.
These objects tend to heat up very quickly.

Conductor

Conductor Vs Insulator

Examples

Multiple Choice

What is a conductor?

• A conductor is a material that only conducts sound.
• A conductor is a device that stores electrical energy.
• A conductor is a material that facilitates the flow of electricity or heat.
• A conductor is a type of insulator that blocks electricity.

Multiple Choice

What is an insulator?

• An insulator is a material that resists the flow of electric current or heat.
• A type of battery that stores energy.
• A device that generates electricity.
• A conductor that enhances electric flow.

Multiple Choice

Select all answer choice(s) that will be good insulators

• copper
• aluminum
• rubber, glass, plastic
• steel

Multiple Choice

Select the answer choice of the object that will be a good conductor

• Copper
• Plastic
• Rubber
• Wood

Specific Heat Values

Based off of the specific heat of a substance we can tell whether it will be a good conductor or not.

If an item has a low specific heat, which means it will heat up quickly, that item will be a good conductor.

If an item has a high specific heat, which means it will not heat up quickly, that means it will be a good insulator.

Joules below 0.500

Low Specific Heat

Joules above 0.500

High Specific Heat

Multiple Choice

Which of the following substance has a high specific heat?

• Steel

• Iron
• Lead

• Water

Multiple Choice

Which of the following has a low specific heat?

• Lead
• Water
• Aluminium
• Iron

Multiple Choice

Which of the following will be a good conductor of heat?

• Sodium

• Helium

• Steel

• Air

Multiple Choice

Choose the answer choice that will be a good insulator.

• Iron
• Steel
• Aluminium
• Polyethylene