What is the basic equation for thermal conductivity?

The equation for thermal conductivity represents how heat transfer occurs through a material. It is formulated as ( Q = k * A * (T1 - T2) / d ), where:

• ( Q ) is the heat transfer per unit time (thermal energy).

• ( k ) is the thermal conductivity of the material, which indicates how well the material conducts heat.

• ( A ) is the cross-sectional area through which the heat is being transferred.

• ( (T1 - T2) ) represents the temperature difference between the two sides of the material.

• ( d ) is the thickness of the material through which the heat is being transferred.

This equation is fundamental in understanding conduction, the process of heat transfer within solids. Higher values of thermal conductivity indicate that a material conducts heat more efficiently, which is critical in engineering applications such as insulation design, heat exchangers, and any system where temperature control is essential.

The other options correspond to different physical concepts. The first option involves the specific heat capacity and is used in calculating the heat required to change the temperature of a substance. The third option relates to the ideal gas law, governing the relation between pressure, volume, and temperature for gases. The fourth option describes