Biology
Chemistry
AP Chemistry
English
AP English Literature
Biology
Nov 29, 2025
48
4 pages
Heat transfer by conduction happens when thermal energy moves between objects that are touching each other. This process... Show more
Ever wonder why some pan handles burn your hand while others don't? That's conduction at work! Thermal energy moves differently through various materials - some let heat pass easily while others block it.
In this exploration, we're observing how heat moves between two beakers connected by a metal rod. When Beaker A starts hot (95°C) and Beaker B starts cold (5°C), something interesting happens the hot beaker cools down while the cold beaker warms up.
This happens because thermal energy naturally flows from warmer objects to cooler ones when they're connected. Think of heat like water flowing downhill - it always moves from higher temperatures to lower ones until they balance out.
Cool Fact Heat transfer by conduction is just one way heat moves. It can also travel through space (radiation) or through moving fluids (convection)!
The temperature difference between objects directly affects how quickly heat transfers between them. When you graph the temperatures of both beakers over time, you'll notice something interesting!
At first, the temperatures change rapidly - Beaker A cools down quickly while Beaker B warms up fast. As time passes, both beakers approach the same temperature (around 50°C), and the rate of temperature change slows down dramatically.
In a perfectly insulated system like this one, the total heat energy stays the same - it just redistributes between the beakers. That's why the sum of both beaker temperatures always equals 100°C! If the beakers weren't insulated, heat would escape to the surroundings, and the total temperature would decrease over time.
Think About It The greater the temperature difference between objects, the faster heat transfers between them. This is why a hot pizza burns your mouth more than a warm one!
The material connecting the beakers greatly affects how quickly heat transfers between them. During any time interval, both beakers change temperature by the same amount - when one loses 1.2°C, the other gains 1.2°C.
However, the rate of temperature change isn't constant over time. When the beakers have a big temperature difference (like 90°C at the beginning), heat transfers quickly. As their temperatures get closer (only 6°C difference later on), heat transfers much more slowly.
This pattern makes sense - the bigger the temperature "hill" between objects, the faster heat "flows downhill" to balance things out. Once the temperatures get close, there's less driving force pushing the heat to move.
Pro Tip Understanding heat transfer rates helps explain why frozen food thaws quickly at first but then slows down as it approaches room temperature!
Some materials are thermal conductors (they let heat pass through easily), while others are thermal insulators (they resist heat transfer). Testing different connecting rods reveals huge differences in how they conduct heat!
After 200 seconds, copper allowed the most heat transfer, with Beaker A's temperature dropping 38.4°C. Glass was the worst conductor (best insulator), with Beaker A's temperature barely changing (dropping just 1.6°C). Aluminum and steel fell somewhere in between.
These properties make certain materials perfect for specific jobs. Copper makes excellent frying pans because it quickly transfers heat from the burner to your food, cooking it evenly and efficiently. Meanwhile, glass and other insulators are great for handles and items that need to stay cool.
Real-World Application This is why quality cookware often has metal cooking surfaces with plastic or wooden handles - the metal conducts heat to cook your food while the handles insulate to protect your hands!
Our AI companion is specifically built for the needs of students. Based on the millions of content pieces we have on the platform we can provide truly meaningful and relevant answers to students. But its not only about answers, the companion is even more about guiding students through their daily learning challenges, with personalised study plans, quizzes or content pieces in the chat and 100% personalisation based on the students skills and developments.
You can download the app in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
3
Smart Tools NEW
Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
App Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
Heat transfer by conduction happens when thermal energy moves between objects that are touching each other. This process explains why some materials feel hot while others stay cool, and it's something you experience every day when you cook, touch different... Show more
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Ever wonder why some pan handles burn your hand while others don't? That's conduction at work! Thermal energy moves differently through various materials - some let heat pass easily while others block it.
In this exploration, we're observing how heat moves between two beakers connected by a metal rod. When Beaker A starts hot (95°C) and Beaker B starts cold (5°C), something interesting happens: the hot beaker cools down while the cold beaker warms up.
This happens because thermal energy naturally flows from warmer objects to cooler ones when they're connected. Think of heat like water flowing downhill - it always moves from higher temperatures to lower ones until they balance out.
Cool Fact: Heat transfer by conduction is just one way heat moves. It can also travel through space (radiation) or through moving fluids (convection)!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The temperature difference between objects directly affects how quickly heat transfers between them. When you graph the temperatures of both beakers over time, you'll notice something interesting!
At first, the temperatures change rapidly - Beaker A cools down quickly while Beaker B warms up fast. As time passes, both beakers approach the same temperature (around 50°C), and the rate of temperature change slows down dramatically.
In a perfectly insulated system like this one, the total heat energy stays the same - it just redistributes between the beakers. That's why the sum of both beaker temperatures always equals 100°C! If the beakers weren't insulated, heat would escape to the surroundings, and the total temperature would decrease over time.
Think About It: The greater the temperature difference between objects, the faster heat transfers between them. This is why a hot pizza burns your mouth more than a warm one!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The material connecting the beakers greatly affects how quickly heat transfers between them. During any time interval, both beakers change temperature by the same amount - when one loses 1.2°C, the other gains 1.2°C.
However, the rate of temperature change isn't constant over time. When the beakers have a big temperature difference (like 90°C at the beginning), heat transfers quickly. As their temperatures get closer (only 6°C difference later on), heat transfers much more slowly.
This pattern makes sense - the bigger the temperature "hill" between objects, the faster heat "flows downhill" to balance things out. Once the temperatures get close, there's less driving force pushing the heat to move.
Pro Tip: Understanding heat transfer rates helps explain why frozen food thaws quickly at first but then slows down as it approaches room temperature!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Some materials are thermal conductors (they let heat pass through easily), while others are thermal insulators (they resist heat transfer). Testing different connecting rods reveals huge differences in how they conduct heat!
After 200 seconds, copper allowed the most heat transfer, with Beaker A's temperature dropping 38.4°C. Glass was the worst conductor (best insulator), with Beaker A's temperature barely changing (dropping just 1.6°C). Aluminum and steel fell somewhere in between.
These properties make certain materials perfect for specific jobs. Copper makes excellent frying pans because it quickly transfers heat from the burner to your food, cooking it evenly and efficiently. Meanwhile, glass and other insulators are great for handles and items that need to stay cool.
Real-World Application: This is why quality cookware often has metal cooking surfaces with plastic or wooden handles - the metal conducts heat to cook your food while the handles insulate to protect your hands!
Our AI companion is specifically built for the needs of students. Based on the millions of content pieces we have on the platform we can provide truly meaningful and relevant answers to students. But its not only about answers, the companion is even more about guiding students through their daily learning challenges, with personalised study plans, quizzes or content pieces in the chat and 100% personalisation based on the students skills and developments.
You can download the app in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
3
Smart Tools NEW
Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
App Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
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