Finding the rate of heat transfer

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the rate of heat transfer using the formula ΔQ/Δt = -kA(ΔT/Δx) with provided values for thermal conductivity, area, temperature difference, and distance. The user correctly substituted the values but questioned the necessity of converting units. It was clarified that area in square meters does not need conversion to meters, and the final answer should be expressed in watts, as it represents power. The calculations were deemed correct, but the user was reminded that the units must align to reflect energy transfer per time. The conversation highlights the importance of unit consistency in physics calculations.
J-Girl
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Hi there, I have this complicated question and I am not sure that I am converting everything corectly. The question is:
"For conduction, the rate of heat transfer is given by \DeltaQ/\Deltat=-kA(\DeltaT/\Deltax)

Data given is:

k=806 W.m^-1.K^-1
A=2.53m^2
\DeltaT=-54.6^{}0C
\Deltax=5.50x10^-3m

"calculate the rate of energy transfer \DeltaQ/\Deltat, and give its correct S.I unit

I just substituted all of the data into the equation, but didnt know if I had to convert meters^2 into meters?
so this is what I had:
\DeltaQ/\Deltat= -(806)(2.53)[(-54.6)/(5.50x10^-3)]
and my answer was 20243496=2.02 x 10^7 W.m^2.K-1(J.s^-1.m^-2.K^-1)- is there a simple unit name for the answer?
 
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J-Girl said:
Hi there, I have this complicated question and I am not sure that I am converting everything corectly. The question is:
"For conduction, the rate of heat transfer is given by \DeltaQ/\Deltat=-kA(\DeltaT/\Deltax)

Data given is:

k=806 W.m^-1.K^-1
A=2.53m^2
\DeltaT=-54.6^{}0C
\Deltax=5.50x10^-3m

"calculate the rate of energy transfer \DeltaQ/\Deltat, and give its correct S.I unit

I just substituted all of the data into the equation, but didnt know if I had to convert meters^2 into meters?
so this is what I had:
\DeltaQ/\Deltat= -(806)(2.53)[(-54.6)/(5.50x10^-3)]
and my answer was 20243496=2.02 x 10^7 W.m^2.K-1(J.s^-1.m^-2.K^-1)- is there a simple unit name for the answer?

You cannot convert m^2 into m, this is nonsensical.

As for the final answer, you should end up with something that has dimensions of power (i.e. energy/time). This is clear from looking at the left-hand side: delta Q/delta t. Therefore, your answer should just have units of watts, and if it doesn't, then you've made a mistake.
 
oh okay thanks:) but in the working out, is everything right? I mean, converted correctly to get a number of 2.02 x 10^7 ?
 
Let us look at the dimensions of the right hand side of your equation

the thermal conductivity K has the units of W/mK

A is the area available for heat transfer and thus has a unit of m^2

dT/dX has the unit of K/m

so in all, the RHS has the units of W (Joules/Second)

the LHS must also have the same dimension !
 
As a followup, your substitutions seem to be OK, just that your units do not match up
 
Sri_Govind: this thread is 10 months old, and it is highly unlikely that the OP will check it any longer. Resurrecting dead threads for no reason (called "necro-posting") is strongly frowned upon. Don't do it.
 
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