Undergraduate Study of Thermal Conductivity of Metals

Abstract

In this work we analyze an undergraduate experiment used to determine the thermal conductivity of metals (K). We introduce few modifications in order to offer the student the chance to explore dierent models, learning the basic scientiffic method of developing appropriate and improved explanations for each experiment in order to better link theory and empirical results. Semi-empirical corrections are introduced in the system in order to check the experimental results according to previously reported K values. As specific cases we use copper [K = 0.92 cal /(°C s cm)], aluminum [K = 0.49 cal /(°C s cm)] and brass [K = 0.26 cal /(°C s cm)] cylinders.