Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
icon-background-square
New
New
Year 10
Edexcel
Higher

Thermal conduction and insulation

I can explain how energy is transferred by thermal conduction in metals and non–metals.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
icon-background-square
New
New
Year 10
Edexcel
Higher

Thermal conduction and insulation

I can explain how energy is transferred by thermal conduction in metals and non–metals.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
View new resources
arrow-right

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The faster the particles of a substance are vibrating or moving, the higher the substance's temperature.
  2. In solids, energy is transferred by vibrating particles colliding with nearby particles, causing them to vibrate more.
  3. Metals are good conductors as their free electrons move through them more quickly when heated and transfer energy.
  4. Thermal conductors can feel cold because they transfer energy quickly away from their surface.
  5. Thermal insulators can feel warm because they do not transfer energy quickly from their surface.

Keywords

  • Heating - causes the particles of a substance to move or vibrate more rapidly

  • Thermal conduction - the transfer of energy through a material due to collisions between moving or vibrating particles

  • Thermal insulation - reduces the transfer of energy by thermal conduction

  • Thermal conductors - substances that transfer energy by thermal conduction quickly

  • Thermal insulators - substances that transfer energy by thermal conduction slowly or not at all

Common misconception

Pupils often do not accept that all objects left in a room for a long time are the same temperature.

Provide opportunities to consolidate the understanding that particles vibrating with more energy transfer some of that energy to particles with less energy through collisions and when bonded together in a solid.


To help you plan your year 10 physics lesson on: Thermal conduction and insulation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Thermal conduction is the transfer of energy when moving particles that are bonded to or collide with other particles cause those particles to move with more speed. Emphasise that heat is not something that is transferred; heat is a sensation caused by the movement of particles.
speech-bubble
Teacher tip
copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Skip lesson video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following is a unit of temperature?
metres
degrees
Correct answer: degrees Celsius
joules
watts
Q2.
What is the boiling point of pure water?
-100°C
-0°C
0°C
Correct answer: 100°C
200°C
Q3.
When a metal block is heated, the size of which energy store increases?
the chemical store
the nuclear store
Correct answer: the thermal store
the gravitational store
the magnetic store
Q4.
A very hot brick is taken out of an oven and placed in a room which is at 20°C. Which of the following statements correctly describes what will happen?
The temperature of the brick will remain constant.
The temperature of the brick will increase.
The temperature of the brick will instantly fall to 20°C.
Correct answer: The temperature of the brick will slowly fall to 20°C.
The temperature of the brick will slowly fall to 0°C.
Q5.
A cold glass of milk taken out of a fridge at 4°C and is placed in a room, which is at 20°C. Which of the following statements correctly describes what will happen?
The temperature of the milk will remain constant.
The temperature of the milk will fall.
The temperature of the milk will instantly rise to 20°C.
Correct answer: The temperature of the milk will slowly rise to 20°C.
The temperature of the milk will slowly rise to 100°C.
Q6.
Why does the liquid in a thermometer move up the glass tube when its temperature rises?
The particles in the liquid become lighter and so can rise more easily.
The particles in the liquid expand and take up more space.
The liquid changes state from a liquid into a gas.
The liquid changes state from a liquid to a solid.
Correct answer: The particles move faster and take up more space, causing the liquid to expand.

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the following key words or phrases to their definition.
Correct Answer:heating,causes the particles of a substance to move or vibrate more rapidly
tick

causes the particles of a substance to move or vibrate more rapidly

Correct Answer:thermal conduction,energy transfer in a material due to particle vibration or movement
tick

energy transfer in a material due to particle vibration or movement

Correct Answer:thermal insulation,reduces how quickly energy is transferred by thermal conduction
tick

reduces how quickly energy is transferred by thermal conduction

Correct Answer:thermal conductors,substances that transfer energy by thermal conduction quickly
tick

substances that transfer energy by thermal conduction quickly

Correct Answer:thermal insulators,substances that transfer energy by thermal conduction slowly
tick

substances that transfer energy by thermal conduction slowly

Q2.
Which of the following materials is the best thermal conductor?
glass
rubber
Correct answer: steel
air
wood
Q3.
Why are metals good thermal conductors?
They have large atoms which can transfer energy more quickly due to their size.
They have free electrons which can produce extra energy.
They have high melting points so can become very hot more easily.
They are good electrical conductors.
Correct answer: They have free electrons which can move throughout the metal to transfer energy.
Q4.
Four rods made from different materials (copper, glass, aluminium, steel) have wax on one end. The other ends are heated with a Bunsen burner. On which rod will the wax start to melt last?
An image in a quiz
copper rod
Correct answer: glass rod
aluminium rod
steel rod
Q5.
The image shows an insulating material used in the loft (attic) of a house to reduce energy loss. It is made from wood fibres. Why is the material used to reduce energy loss?
An image in a quiz
It is very light.
Correct answer: It contains trapped air which is a good thermal insulator.
Wood is a poor thermal insulator.
Correct answer: Wood is a poor thermal conductor.
It is not flammable.
Q6.
The mat used during experiments with a Bunsen burner is sometimes called a ‘heat proof mat’. Why should it be called a ‘heat resistant mat’ instead?
An image in a quiz
It is a good thermal conductor.
It does not break easily.
Correct answer: It will conduct energy if heated for long enough.
Its temperature will not rise when heated.
It is not flammable.
Q5 thingermejig/Wikimedia Commons Images