eli5: Why do some materials conduct heat faster than others?

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Touching hot metal instantly burns but I can hold a silicon spatula straight out of boiling water and the heat doesn’t hurt for a few seconds. Why the time difference?

In: Physics

3 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Metal (conducts) transfers heat faster than silicon, which is why computer fan blades are plastic, and the heat sink is metal. The metal pulls in heat quickly and also releases it quickly.

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