• Question: What's in some materials to make them good heat insoluteors?

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      Asked by 374matb49 to Martin, Rob, James, Elizabeth on 16 Mar 2015.
      • Photo: James Coombs OBrien

        James Coombs OBrien answered on 16 Mar 2015:

        Form a material to be a heat insulator it can’t let heat through it or transport heat. These materials are used to stop heat moving. For a material to be a heat insulator it must be a terrible heat conductor so won’t let heat move through it.

        A material that does this well is wool. That is why we use wool for clothes because it keeps heat on our body keeping us warm.

        Thanks!

      • Photo: Elizabeth Cooper

        Elizabeth Cooper answered on 19 Mar 2015:

        Anything that is a good insulator does not let heat travel through it. A good insulator does not have free electrons that can move.

        Something that conducts electricity has free electrons that can move.

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