Meaning & use
thermal conduction
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountabletechnicalphysics
The process by which heat moves through a material or between materials that are touching, without the material itself moving.
Grammar: Uncountable; used with 'the' when referring to a specific instance or rate. No plural form.
Patterns
- thermal conduction through something
- thermal conduction in a material
- rate of thermal conduction
Thermal conduction in metals is much faster than in wood.
The engineer calculated the rate of thermal conduction through the wall.
A good insulator reduces thermal conduction, keeping the house warm.
Common combinations
- thermal conduction through a solid
- Thermal conduction through a solid depends on the material's conductivity.
- rate of thermal conduction
- The rate of thermal conduction increases with a larger temperature difference.
- poor thermal conduction
- Air has poor thermal conduction, which is why it is used in insulation.
- thermal conduction in metals
- Thermal conduction in metals is due to free electrons.
Synonyms and how they differ
- conduction
- Shorter and often used in context; 'thermal conduction' specifies that the energy transferred is heat.
- heat conduction
- A common alternative term with the same meaning, especially in engineering.
Word family
- conduct verb
- To allow heat or electricity to pass through.
- conductor noun
- A material that allows heat or electricity to pass through it easily.
- conductivity noun
- The ability of a material to conduct heat or electricity.
- thermal adjective
- Relating to heat.
Commonly confused: thermal conduction or convection? thermal conduction or radiation?
thermal conduction vs convection
Convection is heat transfer by the movement of a fluid (like air or water), while conduction happens through direct contact without the material moving.
thermal conduction vs radiation
Radiation is heat transfer by electromagnetic waves, like warmth from a fire; it does not require direct contact or a medium.
Practice
Which process is an example of thermal conduction?
Choose one answer.
Thermal conduction is heat transfer through direct contact without the material moving, as in the metal spoon. Warm air rising and boiling water circulating are convection, and feeling warmth from a fire is radiation.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “thermal conduction”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.