Heat and Temperature

Running head: HEAT AND TEMPERATURE
Heat and Temperature
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Heat and Temperature
Introduction
Thermal conductivity is an important topic in the broad study of heat and temperature. Heat and temperature transfer in the three states of matter portrays various rates due to the differences in the underlying structures of electrons. Basically, thermal conductivity entails the collision of electrons and molecules when an object is subjected to various levels of temperature. The rate at which these molecules collide during the transmission of heat gives the measure of thermal conductivity. This paper explains why a piece of metal feels cooler than a piece of wood at the same temperature.
Metals are better conductors of heat than wood. The concept behind this observation is quite simple and it entails the understanding of the compactness of the electrons in the two materials. In metals, the electrons are not tightly fixed in their lattice (Williams & James, 2001). Therefore, they can transfer heat at a faster rate than electrons in wood, which are firmly held in their structure. When cooled to the same temperatures, metals feel colder than wood because the metal transfers the heat from the hand at a faster rate than the wood (Williams & James, 2001). Thus, the wood will feel warmer to the hand, since the conduction of heat is less effective in wood electrons than in metals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is only a false perception that the two materials differ in temperatures even when they are subjected to the same conditions. However, the rate at which heat is transferred from the hand makes a person believe that a metal is colder than the wood, when indeed the two materials are equally hot or cold. This effect is brought by the difference in...