CONDUCTION

Total number of questions in this chapter are :

(i) Level # 1 ....................... 21

(ii) Level # 2 ....................... 12

(iii) Level # 3 ....................... 10

(iii) Level # 4 ....................... 11

Total no. of questions ....................... 54

 LEVEL # 1
Questions Heat conduction Q. 8 Heat is flowing through two cylindrical rods of
based on
same material. The diameters of the rods are in
Q.1 Under steady state the temperature of a body the ratio 1 : 2 and their lengths are in the ratio
(A) increases with time 2 : 1. If the temperature difference between their
ends is same, then the ratio of amounts of heat
(B) decreases with time
conducted through them per unit time will be :
(C) does not change with time and is same at all
(A) 1 : 1 (B) 2 : 1
points of the body
(C) 1 : 4 (D) 1 : 8
(D) does not change with time and can be
different at different points of the body Q. 9 A rod of 1 m length and area of cross-section 1
cm2 is connected across two heat reservoirs at
Q.2 In the steady state of temperature the flow of
temperatures 100°C and 0°C as shown. The heat
heat across the body depends :
flow per second through the rod in steady state
(A) only upon its thermal conductivity will be [Thermal conductivity of material of rod
(B) upon its thermal capacity = 0.09 kilocal m–1s–1(°C)]
(C) upon its thermal conductivity and upon its
thermal capacity
(D) neither upon its thermal conductivity nor
upon its thermal capacity
(A) 9 × 10–4 kilocal/sec
Q. 3 The rate of flow of heat through a metal bar of (B) 9 kilocal/sec
area of corss-section 1 m² when temperature
(C) 0.09 kilocal/sec
gradient is 1°C/m under steady state is called
(D) 9 × 10–6 kilocal/sec
(A) thermal resistance
(B) thermal conductivity Q.10 The quantity of heat which crosses unit area of
(C) diffusibility a metal plate during conduction depends upon –
(D) resistivity (A) The density of the metal
(B) The temperature gradient perpendicular to
Q. 4 Metals are good conductors of heat because the area
(A) they contain a large number of free electrons (C) The temperature to which the metal is heated
(B) their atoms collide frequently (D) The area of the metal plate
(C) they have shining surfaces
(D) they are habitual of heat flow Q.11 When two ends of a rod wrapped with cotton are
maintained at different temperatures and after
Q.5 The coefficients of thermal conductivity of a some time every point of the rod attains a
metal depends on constant temperature, then –
(A) temperature difference between the two sides (A) Conduction of heat at different points of the
(B) thickness of the metal plate rod stops because the temperature is not
(C) area of the plate increasing.
(D) none of the above (B) Rod is bad conductor of heat
(C) Heat is being radiated from each point of the
Q.6 In which case does the thermal conductivity rod
increase from left to right (D) Each point of the rod is giving heat to its
(A) Al, Cu, Ag (B) Ag, Cu, Al neighbor at the same rate at which it is
(C) Cu, Ag, Al (D) Al, Ag, Cu receiving heat.
Q. 7 Four rods with different radii r and length  are Q.12 The coefficient of thermal conductivity of copper,
used to connect two reservoirs of heat at different mercury and glass are respectively Kc, Km and
temperatures. Which one will conduct most heat? Kg such that Kc > Km > Kg. If the same quantity
(A) r = 1 cm,  = 1m of heat is to flow per second per unit area of
(B) r = 2 cm,  = 2 m each and the corresponding temperature
(C) r = 1 cm,  = 1/2 m gradients are Xc, Xm and Xg, then
(D) r = 2 cm,  = 1/2 m (A) Xc = Xm = Xg (B) Xc > Xm > Xg
(C) Xc < Xm < Xg (D) Xm < Xc <Xg
Questions Combination of rods Q. 18 Two rods A & B are connected in series as shown
based on in fig. the conductivity of A is K1 = 100 w/m -°C
Q.13 The S.I. unit of thermal conductivity is and conductivity of B is K2 = 50 w/m - °C. The
free ends of the rods A & B has temp. 30° & 60°
(A) Js–1 m –1 °C–1 (B) Js m–1 °C–1
respectively the temp. of common meeting point
(C) Js–1 m –1 °C (D) Js–1 m°C–1 will be

Q. 14 If  is the length and A is the area of cross-

section of a rod and K is themal conductivity
ofmaterial, then the thermal resistance is given
by (A) 35°C (B) 40°C
K  (C) 45°C (D) 50°
(A) (B)
A KA
Q. 19 In above Q.18, what is the equivalent
K A conductivity of rods A & B –
(C) (D)
A K (A) 50 w/m-°C (B) 60 w/m-°C
(C) 80 w/m-°C (D) 100 w/m-°C
Q. 15 Two rods are connected as shown. The rods are
of same length and same cross sectional area. In
Q. 20 Two identical square rods of metal are welded
steady state, the temperature () of the interface
will be – end to end as shown in fig (1). 20 cal of heat
flows through it in 4 min. If the rods are welded
as shown in fig. (2), the same amount of heat will
flow through the rods in

(A) 60°C (B) 73.3°C

(C) 46.7°C (D) 37.3°C
(A) 1 min (B) 2 min
Q. 16 Two walls of thickness d 1 and d2 , thermal (C) 4 min (D) 16 min.
conductivities K1 and K2 are in contact. In the
steady state if the temperatures at the outer Q. 21 Two rods of length d1 and d2 and coefficients of
surfaces are T1 and T 2, the temperature are the
thermal conductivities K1 and K2 are kept
common wall will be
touching each other. Both have the same area of
K1T1  K 2 T2 K1T1d 2  K 2 T2 d1
(A) (B) cross-section. The equivalent thermal
d1d 2 K 1 d 2  K 2 d1
conductivity is:
(K1d1  K 2 d 2 )T1T2 K1d1T1  K 2 d 2 T2
(C) (D) (A) K1 + K2 (B) K1d1 + K2d2
T1  T2 K 1 d1  K 2 d 2
K 2 d1  K1d 2 d1  d 2
Q. 17 A slab consists of two parallel layers of two (C) (D)
d1  d 2 d1 d 2
different materials of same thickness and having 
K1 K 2
thermal conductivities K 1 and K 2 . The
equivalent thermal conductivity K of the slab is

2K1K 2
(A) K1 + K2 (B) K  K
1 2

K1  K 2
(C) K K (D) K1 K2
1 2
 LEVEL # 2
Q. 1 A metallic rod is continuously heated at its two Q.6 The SI unit of thermal conductivity is
ends, the flow of heat through the rod does not
depend upon – (A) J s–1 m K–1 (B) J s m–1 K–1
(A) The area of cross section of the rod (C) J s m–1 K (D) J s–1 m –1 K–1
(B) The mass of the rod
(C) Time Q. 7 One end of a copper rod of length 1.0 m and area
(D) The temperature gradient of cross-sector 10–3 m² is immersed in boiling
water and the other end in ice. If the coefficient
Q. 2 A 2cm thick slab of commercial thermocole, 100
of thermal conductivity of copper is 92 cal/ms °C
cm 2 in cross–section and having thermal
conductivity 2 × 10–4 cal sec–1 cm –1 (Cº)–1 has and the latent heat of ice is 8 × 104 cal/kg, then
insulating regions differing by 100ºC. The the amount of ice which will melt in one minute
quantity of heat flowing through it in a day will is
be –
(A) 9.2 × 10–3 kg (B) 8 × 10–3 kg
(A) 20.4 kcal (B) 43.2 kcal
(C) 86.4 kcal (D) 63.6 kcal (C) 6.9 × 10–3 kg (D) 5.4 × 10–3 kg

Q. 3 Two cylinders of the same diameter, one of iron Q. 8 Two identical vessels, made of different materials
and other of silver are placed in close contact as having conductivities K1 and K2 are completely
shown in figure. If the thermal conductivity of
filled with ice at 0°C. Due to temperature of
silver is 11 times that of iron the temperature of
interface A is approximately surroundings, the ice in the two vessels melts in
(A) 91.7 ºC 25 min and 20 min respectively. The ratio of K1
(B) 80ºC and K2 is
(C) 50ºC (A) 5/4 (B) 4/5
(D) 8.3ºC
4/5
(C) 16/25 (D)
0ºC (5 / 4)
Q. 4 A wall has two layer A and B, each made of a Q. 9 A metallic rod is heated at one end continuously.
different material. Both layers have the same
After some time steady stage is reached. The
thickness. The thermal conductivity of the
material of A is twice that of B. Under thermal flow of heat in the steady state does not depend
equilibrium, the temperature difference across the on
wall is 36°C. The temperature difference across
(A) the area of cross-section of the rod
layer A is
(A) 6°C (B) 12°C (B) the temperature gradient
(C) 10°C (D) 24°C (C) the mass of the rod

Q. 5 The coefficient of thermal conductivity of copper (D) the time of flow of heat
is nine time that of steel. In the composite Q. 10 Two rods of length l and 2l, thermal
cylindrical bar shown in Fig. What will be the conductivities 2K and K are connected end to
temp. at the junction of copper and steel?
end. If cross-sectional areas of to rods are equal,
then equivalent thermal conductivity of the
system is

(A) 75°C (B) 67°C (A) (5/6/)K (B) 1.5K

(C) 33°C (D) 25°C (C) 1.2 K (D) (8/9)K
Q. 11 Two metal cubes A and B of same size are Q. 12 Two rods of same length and material transfer
arranged as shown in fig. The extreme ends of given amount of heat in 12 s, when they are
the combination are maintained at 100°C and 0°C joined end to end. When they are joined length-
as shown. The arrangement is thermally insulated. wise then they will transfer same amount of heat
The coefficients of thermal conductivities of A in same conditions in
and B are 300 W/m-°C and 200 W/m-°C (A) 1.5 s (B) 3 s
respectively. After steady state is reached, the (C) 24 s (D) 48 s
temperature of the interface will be

(A) 45°C (B) 90°C

(C) 60°C (D) 30°C
 LEVEL # 3

Passage based questions :

Passage - I (Q. 1 to Q. 2) Q.5 Two rods of the same length and areas of cross-
section A1 and A2 have their ends at the same
Both ends of an aluminum rod of length 20 cm and temperature. K 1 and K 2 are the ther mal
cross-sectional area 4 cm2 are kept at a temperature conductivities of the two rods. The rate of flow
0ºC. Thermal conductivity of aluminum is of heat is same in both the rods if-
205 W/(m-K). The initial distribution of temperature
along the rod can be expressed as T = 75 sin (15.7x) ºC. A1 K 1 A1 K 2
(A) A  K (B) A  K
Here, length of the rod has been considered to be 2 2 2 1
along the X direction and one of the ends as the (C) A1A2 = K1K2 (D) placed in hot oil.
origin so that ‘x’ in initial temperature distribution
equation refers to the x position of any point on the Q.6 On heating one end of a rod, the temperature of
rod. Also the angle in the sine term is in radian whole rod will be uniform when-
provided that x is expressed in the SI system. (A) K = 1 (B) K = 0
Answer the following questions : (C) K = 100 (D) K = .
Q.7 The thermal resistance of two blocks connected
Q.1 Initial temperature distribution along the length of in series will be, if their separate thermal
the rod is given above. Final temperature resistances are 2 and 3 is-
distribution, after a long time, can be expressed as – (A) 1 (B) 6 (C) 5 (D) 1.5
(A) T = 75 cos (15.7x)ºC (B) T = 25ºC
(C) T = 75 tan (15.7x)ºC (D) T = 0ºC Q.8 Two cylindrical rods of the same material have
the same temperature difference between their
Q.2 Magnitude of the rate of change of temperature at ends. The ratio of the rates of flow of heat
the centre of the rod will – through them is 1 : 8. The radii of the rods are
in the ratio 1 : 2. What is the ratio of their
(A) increase with time lengths?
(B) decrease with time (A) 2 : 1 (B) 4 : 1
(C) not change with time (C) 1 : 8 (D) 1 :32.
(D) first increase for some duration of time and then
Q.9 A cylinder of radius R made of a material of
decrease continuously
thermal conductivity K 1 is surrounded by a
Passage : II (Q. 3 to Q.4) cylindrical shell of inner radius R and outer
radius 2R made of a material of thermal
Two rods of same material and thickness are joined conductivity K2. The two ends of the combined
as shown below. The ends X and Y are maintained system are maintained at two different
at XºC and YºC respectively. temperatures. There is no loss of heat across the
cylindrical surface and the system is in steady
state.
The effective thermal conductivity is-
K1K 2
(A) K1 + K2 (B)
K1  K 2

K 1  3K 2
Q. 3 The ratio of the heat flow in the two rods is – (C) (D) 3K 1  K 2 .
(A) 0.36 (B) 0.64 4 4
1 Q.10 Wires A and B have have identical lengths and
(C) (D) 1 have circular cross-sections. The radius of A is
0.36
twice the radius of B i.e. RA = 2RB. For a given
Q. 4 The ratio of heat flow at M and N are Q1 and Q2 temperature difference between the two ends,
respectively. Then – both wires conduct heat at the same rate. The
(A) Q1 = Q2 (B) Q1 > Q2 relation between the thermal conductivities is
given by-
Q2
(C) Q1 < Q2 (D) Q1 = (A) KA = 4KB (B) KA = 2KB
2 (C) KA = KB/2 (D) KA = KB/4.
 LEVEL # 4
(Questions asked in previous AIEEE & IITJEE)
SECTION - A Q.4 A long metallic bar is carrying heat from one of
Q.1 The temperature of the two outer surfaces of a its ends of the other end under steady-state.
composite slab, consisting of two materials having The variation of temperature  along the length
coefficients of thermal conductivity K and 2K and x of the bar from its hot end is best described
thickness x and 4x, respectively, are T2 and T1 (T2 > by which of the following figures?
T1). The rate of heat transfer through the slab, in a

 A (T2  T1 ) K 
steady state is   f, with f equal to –
 x 
(A)

(B)

(A) 1 (B) 1/2 (C) 2/3 (D) 1/3

Q.2 The figure shows a system of two concentric

spheres of radii r1 and r2 and kept at temperatures
T1 and T2 respectively. The radial rate of flow of (C)
heat in a substance between the two concentric
spheres is proportional to

(D)

SECTION - B
r 
(A) (r2 – r1)/(r1r2) (B) ln  2  Q.1 A point source of heat of power P is placed at
 r1  the centre of spherical shell of mean radius R.
r1r2
(C) (r  r ) (D) (r2 – r1) The material of the shell has thermal conducivity
2 1
K. If the temperaute difference between the outer
Q.3 One end of a thermally insulated rod is kept at and inner surface of shell is not to exceed T, the
a temperature T1 and the other at T2 . The rod is thickness of the shell should not be less then
composed of two sections of lengths l 1 and l 2
and thermal conductivities k1 and k2 respectively.
The temperature at the interface of the two 4R 2 KT  R 2 KT
(A)  (B) 
sections is  
T 1 l1 l2 T2 2R 2 KT
(C)  (D) None

k1 k2
Q.2 Two metal cubes A and B of same size are
(A) (k2 l 2 T 1 + k1 l 1 T 2 ) / (k1 l 1 + k2 l2 )
arranged as shown in figure. The extreme ends
(B) (k2 l 1 T 1 + k1 l 2 T 2 ) / (k2 l 1 + k1 l2 )
of the combination are maintained at the indicated
(C) (k1 l 2 T 1 + k2 l 1 T 2 ) / (k1 l 2 + k2 l1 )
temperaqtures. The arrangement is thermally
(D) (k1 l 1 T 1 + k2 l 2 T 2 ) / (k1 l 1 + k2 l2 )
insulated. The coefficients of thermal conductivity
 of A and B are 300W/mºC and 200 W/mºC, Q.5 2 Liter water kept in a kettle is heated by 1 KW
respectively. After steady state is reached, the power source. Kettle is open & it loses heat at
the rate of 160 J/s. The time taken for the
temperature T of the interface will be temperature of kettle to change from 27ºC to 77ºC
is
(A) 8 min 20 sec (B) 6 min 20 sec
(C) 5 min (D) 7 min

Q.6 Which of the following process is not primarily

due to convection
(A) boiling of water
(A) 60ºC (B) 30ºC (C) 90ºC (D) 40ºC (B) sea and land breeze
(C) Air circulation around furnace
Q.3 Three rods made of the same material and having (D) heating of glass bulb through filament
the same cross-section have been joined as
shown in the figure. Each is of the same length.
The left and right ends are kept 0ºC and 90ºC Q.7 A metal rod AB of length 10x has its one end A in ice
respectively. The temperature of the junction of at 0°C and the other end B in water at 100°C. If a
the three rods will be – point P on the rod is maintained at 400°, then it is
found that equal amounts of water and ice evaporate
and melt per unit time. The latent heat of evaporation
of water is 540 cal/g and latent heat of melting of ice
is 80 cal/g. If the point P is at a distance of x from
(A) 45ºC (B) 60ºC
the ice end A, find the value of .
(C) 30ºC (D) 20ºC
[Neglect any heat loss to the surrounding.
Q.4 Two identical rods are connected in parallel. One
end of the rods is maintained at 100ºC and other
end is kept in 0ºC ice. The rate at which the ice
melts is Q1 gm/sec. Now the rods are connected
in series. The ends are again mainainted at 100ºC
and kept in 0ºC ice. Now the rate at which ice
melts is Q2 gm/sec. Then Q2 /Q1 is

(A) 4 (B) 1/2

(C) 2 (D) 1/4
 ANSWER KEY

LEVEL # 1
Q.No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ans. D A B A D A D D A B D C A B B
Q.No. 16 17 18 19 20 21
Ans. B B C B A D

LEVEL # 2
Q.No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Ans . B C D D A D C B C C C B

LEVEL # 3
Q.No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Ans . D B B C B D C A C D

LEVEL # 4
SECTION - A
Q.No. 1 2 3 4
Ans. D C C B

SECTION - B
Q.No. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Ans. A A B D A D
Q.7 9