Conduction Rods
Safety Warnings
Warning: Fire and Heat Hazards
Warning: Eye Protection
Purpose
Different metal rods radiate from a central hub heated by a propane torch. Wax-mounted steel balls on the rod tips fall off in order of decreasing thermal conductivity, giving students a direct visual comparison of heat conduction rates across metals.
Figure 1:
Conduction rod array during heating: a propane torch heats the central hub while wax-mounted steel balls sit at the tip of each rod, ready to drop as the wax melts.
Figure 2:
Three conduction rod arrays showing the variety of metal combinations available. Only two of the arrays have rod materials labeled. Waxed steel balls (in jar) are pressed onto the rod tips before use.
Equipment
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