Chapter 12, Problem 3ICA

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

1. a. What are the units of the constant [4.16 × 10^-7]? Simplify your answer.
2. b. If the specific heat of the material is 780 joules per kilogram kelvin, what is the density of the material?
3. c. If the material has a density of 5400 kilograms per cubic meter, what is the specific heat of the material in units of joules per kilogram kelvin?