How To Demonstrate Thermal Insulation and Conduction

In this video, Paul Cook shows you how to demonstrate thermal insulation and conduction, a component of GCSE Physics. An ice cube can be used to demonstrate both thermal insulation and conduction in a simple and visual way.

What Happens?

The black squares consist of two distinct materials: Metal (Aluminium) and Plastic. One possesses excellent heat conduction while the other possesses superior heat insulation. When ice is placed on both squares, it melts more rapidly on one, clearly indicating the contrast in their thermal conductivity. Did you know, different samples of metal squares can also show different rates of thermal conductivity?

You will need:

• • Ice Melting kit or Metal and plastic/wood same size square /tray.
  • 2 same sized ice cubes

Method:

1. 1. 1. Show the two identical black squares and mention they are at room temperature
      2. Divide students into two groups – Hand the squares out for students to handle – left hand group gets one block and right-hand group gets the other – do not let them handle both.
      3. Ask the students to feedback characteristics of the squares
      4. Confirm the students feedback for each square
      5. Ask, as the squares are both identical will the ice cubes melt at the same rate.
      6. Place the ice cubes on the squares at the same time
      7. Highlight that one is visibly melting faster than the other – Why is that happening?
      8. Swap the ice cubes over to show the ice cubes do the same thing.
      9. Allow students to touch the corner of the squares – how is the ice cube melting so fast on the cold square but not the warm square?

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   Video transcript below:

   0:00

   foreign

   0:04

   [Music]

   0:13

   [Music]

   0:18

   temperature not heated not Shield

   0:21

   exactly the same shape and size

   0:24

   so can you tell me anything that you can

   0:28

   feel any characteristics

   0:32

   this one feels warm to room temperature

   0:37

   does it feel light or heavy it feels

   0:40

   light it feels light and warm what about

   0:43

   this one this one feels colder and

   0:47

   heavier okay

   0:49

   so

   0:51

   and two black squares I’m just gonna use

   0:55

   my infrared thermometer

   1:03

   [Music]

   1:04

   okay

   1:06

   so this one felt warmer this one felt

   1:11

   colder

   1:13

   next

   1:14

   I have two ice cubes

   1:19

   same size ice cubes nothing changed

   1:22

   we’re going to put one in this Cube

   1:24

   square and one in this Square

   1:27

   [Music]

   1:28

   can you see this one felt colder

   1:33

   and the Ice Cube is already melting this

   1:36

   one felt warm up and

   1:37

   [Music]

   1:40

   I haven’t done anything to the ice cubes

   1:44

   both the same black sweaters

   1:49

   put one over

   1:51

   [Music]

   1:55

   you can see this one stop melting

   1:58

   [Music]

   2:00

   let’s hit you into melt

   2:02

   what is going on

   2:07

   the faster temperature

   2:11

   15.3 degrees and that one’s melting

   2:19

   this one is 18.1 degrees

   2:22

   and the Ice Cube is not melting

   2:29

   [Music]

   2:37

   [Music]

   2:39

   this one is so cold and this one is

   2:43

   still good that’s the one that’s melting

   2:46

   [Music]

   2:51

   this one still feels very cold

   2:55

   and this one still feels warm

   2:58

   so let me check the temperature.

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