Question
Explain why the structure of copper allows the conduction of thermal energy.
Answer
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Quintina
Elite · Tutor for 8 years
Answer
The structure of copper that allows the conduction of thermal energy is due to a number of reasons: the atoms in copper are closely packed together which enables efficient thermal vibration transfer. Alongside that, copper contains a plethora of free electrons, capable of absorbing thermal energy, escalating their speed and thereby boosting the energy dispersion throughout the material.
Explanation
## Step1: Copper is a metal with a specific atomic structure that fosters the conduction of thermal energy. This includes closely-packed atoms and a sea of free electrons.## Step2: Closely packed atoms create paths for the heat to transfer, rapidly vibrating as thermal energy increases. Essentially, a given atom receives thermal energy which vibrates it, this vibration is contiguous, passing on to the next atom facilitating the conduction of thermal energy. This characteristic enables metals to conduct thermal energy efficiently: when one atom vibrates due to an energy increase, it impacts adjacent atoms causing a consequent thermal vibrational procession.### The heat conduction of metals can be represented by this formula: **Q= k*A((T1-T2)/l)**, where Q is heat conducted, k is the thermal conductivity, A is the cross-sectional area, T1 - T2 is temperature discrepancy, and l the path length.## Step3: The free electrons present in metallic substances like Copper also play a significant role in heat transference. When thermal energy is added, these electrons gain kinetic energy and begin moving rapidly reflecting off bypass and radiating energy throughout the metals-your quintessential Conduction of thermal energy.### The formula for the kinetic energy of these free electrons is **(1/2)*m*v^2**. In this expression of kinetic energy, m denotes the electron’s mass and v is its velocity. Increase in energy heightens the velocity, further advancing heat transfer.