Thermal Conductivity of Bad

International Journal of Physics and Mathematical Sciences ISSN: 2277-2111 (Online)
An Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jpms.htm

2013 Vol. 3 (1) January-March, pp.40-42/Laha and Bhoi
Research Article
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF BAD CONDUCTORS REVISITED
U Laha and *J Bhoi
Department of Physics, National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur-831014, India
*Author for Correspondence
ABSTRACT
A slightly different method based on calorimetric principle is discussed to determine the thermal
conductivity of poor conductors by the apparatus designed which is of considerable interest to graduate
students.
Key Words: Thermal Conductivity, Bad Conductors, Calorimetric Principle, Apparatus Designed
INTRODUCTION
The power of transmitting heat through conduction is possessed by all substances to a varying degree. For
finding the conductivity of poor conductors the substance can not be used in the form of a long bar or rod
like good conductors as the heat loss from the sides would be considerably compared with the heat
actually conducted through the substance itself. For this, the substance is generally employed in the form
of a thin plate, sphere or cylinder (Saha and Srivastava, 1969).
Lees and Charlton (1896) apparatus is one in which the bad conductor is employed in the form of a disc
and its thermal conductivity is measured by applying Newton’s law of cooling. Besides the application of
Newton’s law of cooling one can also measure the thermal conductivity by using simple calorimetric
method which is as follows.
A slab or disc of material to be tested is placed between a steam chamber which maintains a constant
temperature of 1000C and a copper disc which maintains a constant temperature at the steady state. This
steady state temperature is recorded with the help of a thermometer. A fixed temperature differential is
thereby established between the surfaces of the material under consideration and heat is conducted
through at a constant rate. A certain amount of water is taken in an insulated copper glass of known mass
and bottom diameter. Initial temperature of the glass-water system is recorded. At the steady state the
glass-water system is placed on the copper disc and is allowed to receive heat for a certain time interval,
say 10-12 minutes. The rise in temperature of glass-water is recorded. The thermal conductivity of the bad
conductor can, therefore, be calculated by using the following formula.
MATERIALS AND METHODS

The amount of heat conducted through a material is given by
KATt
Q  ,
h
Where Q is the total heat conducted, A, the area through conduction takes place, T , is the
temperature difference between sides of the material, t is the time during which the conduction
occurred and h is the thickness of the material.
If an insulated copper glass of mass Mg and specific heat Sg with Mw amount of water is placed on the
copper disc which is on the upper surface of the bad conductor and maintains a constant temperature at
the steady state then the heat received by the glass-water system during the time interval t is calculated
as
 
Q  M g S g  M w  ,
Where  stands for the rise in temperature of the glass-water system during time interval t . From
above two equations thermal conductivity K can be computed by using the relation.
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Research Article
M S g  M w  h
K
g
.
ATt
The Thermal Conductivity Apparatus Includes the Following Equipments (Figure 1)

• Steam generator and steam chamber • Thermometers • Copper disc of thickness about 1cm • Insulated
copper glass with cover • Materials [Cardboard, Ebonite, Plywood Plasterboard (gypsum), glass
(ordinary) etc.] to test in the form of thin plate.
Procedure for Measuring Thermal Conductivity

• The sample of the bad conductor is clamped on the steam chamber and the copper disc is placed on it.
• The diameter of the bottom of the insulated copper glass of known mass is measured through which heat
is conducted.
• A certain amount of water (measured by a measuring cylinder) is put in the insulated copper glass and
temperature is recorded.
• The steam is allowed to pass through the steam chamber and the reading of the thermometer on copper
disc, placed on the upper surface of the bad conductor, is monitored constantly.
• When steady state is reached (temperature remains constant over a long period of time), temperature is
recorded and the insulated copper glass with water is placed on the copper disc. The glass-water system is
allowed to receive heat for a certain time interval (say 10-12 minutes) measured by a stopwatch and also
the final temperature of glass-water system is noted.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Following the procedure we have measured the thermal conductivity of certain bad conductors and found
these values are in agreement (Kaye and Laby, 1995) (within 10-15 % error) under normal laboratory
condition as shown in Table 1. However the values for Cardboard, Plywood and Plasterboard (gypsum)
may vary considerably. Some materials like Cardboard, Plywood and Plasterboard (gypsum) were
covered with aluminum foil for water proofing and were found experimentally no measurable effect on
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Research Article
the conductivity of the sample. It is our belief that the present method will be appreciable to intermediate
and graduate students.
Table 1: Thermal Conductivity

Substance K (Measured Value) in W/m0K K (Standard Value) in W/m0K
Cardboard 0.182 0.21
Ebonite 0.151 0.17
Plywood 0.138 0.125
Plasterboard (Gypsum) 0.18 0.16
Glass (Ordinary) 0.95 0.86
REFERENCES
Kaye and Laby (1995). Tables of Physical and Chemical Constants, 16th Edition.
Lees CH and Charlton JD (1896). Philosophical Magazine 41 495.
Saha MN and Srivastava BN (1969). A Treatise on Heat (Allahabad: The Indian Press [Pub] Pvt. Ltd.)
5th Edition.
42

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International Journal of Physics and Mathematical Sciences ISSN: 2277-2111 (Online)

An Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jpms.htm

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Thermal Conductivity Apparatus Includes the Following Equipments (Figure 1)

Procedure for Measuring Thermal Conductivity

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1: Thermal Conductivity

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