Conduction in Solids
📋 What it is
In conduction, jiggling particles bump their neighbours, passing heat through a solid by direct contact.
🗣️ Coach says
Conduction is heat by touch. Fast-jiggling particles bump into their slower neighbours, passing the energy along without the particles themselves travelling far. Metals conduct fast (their electrons zip heat along); wood, plastic and air conduct slowly — they’re insulators.
🧠 Memory hook
Conduction = particles bumping neighbours. Metals fast (good conductors) · wood/plastic slow (insulators).
😂 Giggle
What's the Sun's favorite way to transfer heat?
Radiation — it doesn't even need to touch you!
😲 Whoa!
A cast-iron pan handle gets dangerously hot from conduction, which is exactly why many pans add a wooden or plastic handle — a poor conductor that protects your hand.
✅ Quick check: Why do cooking pots often have plastic or wooden handles?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
Those materials are poor conductors (insulators), so they slow heat reaching your hand.
Insulators conduct heat slowly, protecting the user.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Stand a metal spoon and a plastic spoon in hot water for a minute, then touch the tops — feel the difference.