How it works:
- Particles at the hot end vibrate MORE
- They collide with neighbouring particles, passing on kinetic energy
- Energy transfers from particle to particle through the material
- Particles DON'T move position — just vibrate and pass energy along
Why metals are BEST conductors:
- Metals have free electrons (delocalised electrons)
- Free electrons can move through the metal structure
- They carry kinetic energy MUCH faster than vibrations alone
- This is why a metal spoon in hot tea heats up fast, but a wooden spoon doesn't
Insulators (poor conductors):
- No free electrons — rely only on particle vibrations
- Examples: wood, plastic, glass, air, wool
- Trapped air is an excellent insulator (used in double glazing, cavity walls, loft insulation)
This key facts covers CONDUCTION — Heat Through Solids within Heat Transfer for GCSE Physics. Revise Heat Transfer in Energy for GCSE Physics with 14 exam-style questions and 11 flashcards. Use this page as part of a wider topic revision path rather than treating it as an isolated fact. It is section 2 of 17 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Heat Transfer
Which method of thermal energy transfer occurs mainly in solids?
Explain how a convection current forms when the base of a fluid is heated.
Quick recall flashcards
Fluid is heated
particles gain kinetic energy → move faster → spread out
Examples
wood, plastic, glass, air, wool