Explore a model of heat conduction in a solid.
Molecules with a temperature above absolute zero (0 K) move. In a solid, the particles move about a fixed location within the solid.
The speed of a particle is proportional to its temperature. Hotter molecules move faster than cooler ones. When a hotter particle collides with a neighboring cooler molecule, a portion of the heat transfers to the colder one, so it moves faster.
What To Do:
Step 1) Click "Setup."
Step 2) Click "Forever."
Step 3) Create a temperature gradient within the solid in a variety of orientations and magnitudes by either heating and/or cooling parts of the solid square.
a) Click "Heat Left" to heat the molecules along the left.
b) Click "Heat Bottom" to heat the molecules along the bottom.
c) Click "Heat Point" to heat a small number of molecules along the center of the left side.
d) To remove heat from molecules on the edges of the solid, click the "Cool" buttons.
Create a number of experiments to see how heat conducts through a solid depending on the direction and magnitude of the temperature gradient (change in temperature over distance). To reset the temperatures of the molecules for another experiment, click "Setup."
For more about heat conduction and other forms of heat transfer, see https://sciencepickle.com/energy/