The mechanism of conduction is simple. As the temperature of a substance increases, so does the kinetic energy of its individual particles, which causes them to resonate rapidly within that substance. These high energy particles then collide with those at a lower temperature, transferring energy through the substance. For example, if a metallic spoon were placed in hot water, initially only the particles in contact with the water would increase in thermal energy. The energy would then propagate through the spoon until heat was felt at its handle.
Some materials are naturally good conductors of heat, while others are poor.
Metals usually conduct heat extremely well, which explains the use of iron and copper in cooking utensils. In this experiment, students will explore conduction through two examples. The first will compare the conductive capabilities of copper and cork. They should find copper, a metal, to conduct heat much faster than the cork. The second example will test the conductivity of three kitchen utensils made of plastic, wood and metal.