Fourier's Conduction Law
Definition
Fourier's conduction law describes how heat flows through a solid material by conduction. It states that the rate at which heat transfers through a material is directly proportional to the temperature gradient (change in temperature per unit distance) and inversely proportional to its thermal conductivity.
Analogy
Imagine a long line of people passing buckets of water from one end to the other. The rate at which the water is transferred depends on how quickly each person passes the bucket and how far apart they are. Similarly, Fourier's conduction law explains that heat flows through a material based on the temperature difference and how conductive the material is.
Related terms
Thermal conductivity: A measure of how well a material conducts heat.
Temperature gradient: The change in temperature per unit distance within a material.
Heat flux: The amount of heat energy transferred per unit area per unit time.
"Fourier's Conduction Law" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Are you a college student?
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.