- #1
dchau503
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This is mainly just a theoretical question: say you have a rectangular box made of styrofoam (one of those ice cooler things) and it is levitating in air at room temperature conditions. It also has one hole at the top of the container so that heat can get out of it. Inside the box is a lightbulb that provides heat of 10 W. What equations can I use to find out how much heat is dissipated out the container?
I know how to use the equations for conduction to calculate the heat loss from the wall but I'm confused on whether to use just convection equations for the hole or if I should also combine convection equations to the conduction of the wall. Any help would be appreciated. I'm also thrown off by the fact that air has a lower thermal conductivity than wood, which doesn't make intuitive sense because that would make it seem like you would be more insulated in the outside than if you were in a house.
I know how to use the equations for conduction to calculate the heat loss from the wall but I'm confused on whether to use just convection equations for the hole or if I should also combine convection equations to the conduction of the wall. Any help would be appreciated. I'm also thrown off by the fact that air has a lower thermal conductivity than wood, which doesn't make intuitive sense because that would make it seem like you would be more insulated in the outside than if you were in a house.