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Definition 2024


thermal_conductivity

thermal conductivity

English

Noun

thermal conductivity (plural thermal conductivities)

  1. (physics) A measure of the ability of a material to conduct heat, often denoted k, λ, or κ.

Usage notes

The heat (thermal energy) flow Pth through a plate made of a given material depends on the thermal conductivity λ of that material, the surface of the plate A, the temperature difference over the plate ΔT and the thickness of the plate d, and follows the formula:

Thus, the higher the conductivity, the higher the heat flow. The unit of thermal conductivity in SI system of units is W·m-1·K-1.

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