2.0 OBJECTIVE1.

1. To apply Fourier’s Law of linear in heat conduction.

2. To investigate the influence of thermal insulation upon conduction between adjacent materials.

3. To demonstrate the effect of surface contact on thermal conduction between adjacent slabs of
materials

Thermal conduction is the transfer of heat energy in a material due to the temperature gradient
within it. It always takes place from a region of higher temperature to a region of lower
temperature. The Fourier’s Law states that the rate of heat transfer through a material is
proportional to the negative gradient in the temperature and to the area, at right angles to that
gradient, through which the heat is flowing. The relationship is as shown below :

𝑘𝐴𝑑𝑇
Q=
𝑑𝑥

According to Fourier’s law of heat conduction: If a plane wall of thickness ( L ) and area (A) supports
a temperature difference ( T ) then the heat transfer rate per unit time (Q) by conduction through
the wall is found to be:

T
Q = A 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 L = (𝐿𝑏 − 𝐿𝑎 )
𝐿

If the material of the wall is homogeneous and has a thermal conductivity k (the constant of
proportionality) then:

T
Q = A 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 L = (𝑇𝑏 − 𝑇𝑎 )
𝐿

Where

Q is the rate of heat conduction in the x-direction,

K is the thermalconductivity of the material,

A is the cross-sectional area normal to the

x-direction, and

dT/dx is the temperature gradient in the

x-direction. The negative sign indicates that heat istransferred in the direction of decreasing
temperature.The thermal conductivity
k varies between different materials and can be a functionof temperature, but it can be treated as a
constant over small temperature ranges. In thisexperiment we will investigate Fourier's Law by
finding the thermal conductivity k for brass and comparing this value to the actual value from one
or more references.To do so we will calculate the cross sectional area, A of the bar and the slope

dT/dx

from a plot of measured temperatures vs. length. We can then use these values in area rranged
version of Fourier's Law to find the thermal conductivity, k:

( )