Chapter 12, Problem 14ICA

Solid objects, such as your desk or a rod of aluminum, can conduct heat. The magnitude of the thermal diffusivity of the material determines how quickly the heat moves through a given amount of material. The equation for thermal diffusivity (a) is given by:

$\alpha =\frac{k}{\rho C_p}$

Experiments are conducted to change the specific heat (C_p) of the material while holding the thermal conductivity (k) and the density (ρ) constant. The results are shown graphically.

1. a. What are the units of the constant 0.088? Simplify your answer.
2. b. If the thermal conductivity of the material is 237 watts per meter kelvin, what is the density of the material?
3. c. If the material has a density of 4500 kilograms per cubic meter, what is the thermal conductivity of the material in units of watts per meter kelvin?