Lecture 4:Thermal properties II

INTRODUCTION
Thermal property refers to the response of a material to the application of heat. As a solid absorbs energy in the form of heat, its temperature rises and its dimensions increase. The energy may be transported to cooler regions of the specimen if temperature gradients exist, and ultimately, the specimen may melt. Heat capacity, thermal
expansion, and thermal conductivity are properties that are often critical in the practical utilization of solids.
After studying this chapter you should be able to do the following:
1. Define heat capacity and specific heat.
2. Note the primary mechanism by which thermal
energy is assimilated in solid materials.
3. Determine the linear coefficient of thermal
expansion given the length alteration that
accompanies a specified temperature change.
4. Briefly explain the phenomenon of thermal
expansion from an atomic perspective
using a potential-energy-versus-interatomicseparation
plot.
5. Define thermal conductivity.
6. Note the two principal mechanisms of heat
conduction in solids, and compare the relative
magnitudes of these contributions for each of
metals, ceramics, and polymeric materials.