Visualizing Heat Transfer in Solids to Help You Understand Conduction
And how you can do the same on a simulation software like COMSOL Multiphysics
When it comes to heat-transfer processes, 3 different kinds of energy transfer can be involved: conduction, convection, and radiation [1].
Even though these modes can work in tandem to transfer heat through any medium (or lack thereof when it comes to vacuum), heat transfer in solids is normally achieved through conduction.
Here, to help illustrate how conduction works, we will be simulating what conduction-based heat transfer looks like on a solid, square plate.
But First, What is Conduction?
By definition, conduction is an energy transfer process where heat is transferred from a hotter area to a cooler area without requiring the movement of any particles [2].
This process works due to 2 differing internal mechanisms.
The first (and more common) mechanism relies on the vibration and movement of atoms or molecules. When a temperature gradient exists, the molecules at the hotter end will have more kinetic energy and as such, vibrate (or move) more vigorously than molecules in the cooler regions. This creates a situation where the…
