Q:
What Is a Poor Conductor of Heat?
A:
Quick Answer
A poor conductor of heat is any material that can not transfer heat. Poor conductors have a low density thus the particles in a given volume of the material are not enough to collide and transfer heat. Examples of poor heat conductors include air, wood, paper, cloth and water.
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Full Answer
All gases and liquids are poor conductors of heat. To demonstrate this principle, place ice in a test tube and fill it with water. Hold the test tube in position, and heat the upper part of the test tube with a gas flame. In this experiment, the water at the upper part of the tube boils for several minutes before transferring heat to melt the ice.
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