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Difficulty: EasyHeat Capacity and Insulation

Arrange the following materials in order from the BEST thermal insulator (slowest rate of heat transfer) to the WORST thermal insulator (fastest rate of heat transfer).

  1. 1Fiberglass insulation
  2. 2Solid wood
  3. 3Window glass
  4. 4Copper piping

Answer

The correct order from best to worst thermal insulator is: Fiberglass insulation, Solid wood, Window glass, Copper piping.
Fiberglass traps air, giving it the highest insulation value. Wood is naturally porous and insulates moderately well. Glass is a poor insulator but still restricts heat more than metals. Copper is highly conductive, making it the worst insulator.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the material known for intentionally blocking heat transfer.
Fiberglass insulation is designed specifically to prevent heat loss or gain in buildings, placing it first.
Trapped air within the fiberglass matrix provides exceptional resistance to thermal conduction.
2
Evaluate the remaining non-metal materials.
Solid wood is placed second, and window glass is placed third.
Wood's internal cellular structure acts as a moderate insulator (often used for pot handles), whereas solid glass is dense and transfers heat more readily.
3
Identify the material known for thermal conductivity.
Copper piping is placed last.
Metals like copper have highly mobile electrons that transfer kinetic energy (heat) rapidly, making them excellent conductors and terrible insulators.

Key Concept

Thermal conductivity dictates how quickly heat moves through a material. Good insulators (like air-trapping fiberglass) have low conductivity, while conductors (like metals) have high conductivity.
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Topics

Heat Capacity and Insulation

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