What is the difference between thermal conductors and thermal insulators

Thermal conduction is the process of transferring thermal energy heat from one place to another due to a temperature gradient. For a thermal energy transfer, there must be a temperature gradient between the two points. The energy transfer is done until the temperatures are equal i. A thermal conductor is a material that would give a good thermal energy transfer rate due to any temperature gradient. Theoretically, a perfect thermal conductor will allow heat transfer even at zero temperature gradient and the time it take for the thermal equilibrium would be zero.

But there are no perfect thermal conductors. Usually, metals are good thermal conductors, while plastics and polymers are not. The covalent bond is the chemical bond between the atoms which involve the sharing of electrons. In conductor, the electrons freely move from atom to atom whenever a potential difference is applied across it whereas, in an insulator, the electrons are fixed due to atomic level forces. The conductivity of the conductor is high, whereas the conductivity of the insulators is low.

Conductivity is the rate at which the heat or charge flows through the material. The resistance of the conductor is very less, and hence the electrons freely move from atom to atom. The resistance of the insulator is very high.

The conductor has a large number of free electrons whereas insulator does not have a large number of free electrons. The potential on the conductor remains same at all the point whereas in insulators the potential remains zero. The resistivity of the conductor varies from high to low whereas the resistivity of an insulator is very high. Resistivity is the resisting power of the material.

The conductor has positive thermal coefficient of resistance whereas the insulator has the negative thermal coefficient of resistance.. The thermal coefficient of resistance describes the change in the physical property of the material with temperature. If the resistance increases with the temperature, then it is called the positive thermal coefficient of resistance. In negative thermal coefficient, the resistance decreases with the increase in temperature.

The conduction band of a conductor is full of electrons whereas the conduction band of an insulator is empty. Log in. Science Experiments. Study now. See Answer. Best Answer. Study guides. Physics 20 cards. Which term explains whether an object's velocity has increased or decreased over time.

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Do insulators transfer heat easily? One such important category based on which elements are classified is conductivity. That is, the ability of an element to allow ions or electrons freely. Based on their conductivity, elements are classified into conductors and insulators.

The difference between Conductor and Insulator is that the latter is resistant to the free flow of thermal or electric energy. The former on the other hand, is receptive to the flow of heat or electricity. A conductor is described as a material that permits electrons to flow freely and easily from one particular to another in one or more than one directions.

Such free flow of electrons allows the energy in the form of heat or electric charge to pass through the concerned material easily. An Insulator , on the other hand, is a material that does not permit electrons to flow freely. On the contrary, it holds the electrons tightly within the atoms of a material and consequently obstructs the free flow of energy in the form of heat or electric current to pass through the material.

It refers to any of various substances that allow the movement of electric current or thermal energy. They have high conductivity and poor resistance to the flow of electric or thermal energy. That is their bond with the atom of which they are a part lacks strength.

This lack of strength permits the free flow of energy from one atom to another.