Thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity

In summary, thermal conductivity is a measure of how well a material can conduct heat, typically measured in watts per meter-kelvin (W/mK). It is affected by factors such as chemical composition, density, and temperature. Specific heat capacity, on the other hand, is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius and is related to thermal conductivity, but they are not the same thing. Materials with high thermal conductivity tend to have low specific heat capacity, and vice versa.
  • #1
hanson
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Is there any direct relationship between these 2 properties of a matter?
 
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  • #2
There is no direct relationship.
 
  • #3
They can be somewhat related. For metals where thermal conductivity is dominated by free carriers, thermal conductivity(k) and specific heat(c_v) can be related by: k=(1/3)c_v*v*l, where v is the mean carrier speed and l the mean free path.
 

1. What is thermal conductivity?

Thermal conductivity is a measure of how well a material can conduct heat. It is a physical property that quantifies the ability of a material to transfer thermal energy through it.

2. How is thermal conductivity measured?

Thermal conductivity is typically measured using a device called a heat flow meter, which measures the rate of heat transfer through a material. The units are typically watts per meter-kelvin (W/mK).

3. What factors affect thermal conductivity?

The thermal conductivity of a material is affected by its chemical composition, density, and temperature. Materials with high thermal conductivity tend to be highly conductive metals, while materials with low thermal conductivity are often insulators.

4. What is specific heat capacity?

Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius. It is a measure of how much energy is needed to change the temperature of a material.

5. How are thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity related?

Thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity are related, but they are not the same thing. While thermal conductivity measures a material's ability to transfer heat, specific heat capacity measures its ability to store heat. Materials with high thermal conductivity tend to have low specific heat capacity, and vice versa.

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