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With increase in porosity, the thermal conductivity of a solid substance
  • a)
    increases
  • b)
    decreases
  • c)
    remains unchanged
  • d)
    may increase or decrease; depends on the solid
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
With increase in porosity, the thermal conductivity of a solid substan...
Introduction:
The thermal conductivity of a solid substance is a measure of its ability to conduct heat. It is a property that determines how efficiently heat is transferred through the substance. Porosity refers to the presence of pores or voids within the solid substance. The increase in porosity affects the thermal conductivity of the substance.

Explanation:
When the porosity of a solid substance increases, the thermal conductivity of the substance decreases.

Reasons:
There are several reasons why an increase in porosity leads to a decrease in thermal conductivity:

1. Decreased contact area:
With an increase in porosity, the solid substance contains more voids or pores. These voids act as insulating spaces and reduce the contact area between the solid particles. As a result, there are fewer pathways for heat to transfer through the substance, leading to a decrease in thermal conductivity.

2. Increased thermal resistance:
The presence of pores or voids in a solid substance creates thermal resistance. When heat is transferred through a substance, it encounters resistance along its path. With increased porosity, the number of pathways for heat transfer decreases, and the resistance to heat flow increases. This increased resistance reduces the thermal conductivity of the substance.

3. Air-filled voids:
An increase in porosity often means the presence of more air-filled voids within the solid substance. Air is a poor conductor of heat compared to solids. When the voids are filled with air, it hampers the efficient transfer of heat through the substance, resulting in a decrease in thermal conductivity.

Conclusion:
In summary, an increase in porosity of a solid substance leads to a decrease in thermal conductivity. This is primarily due to the decreased contact area, increased thermal resistance, and the presence of air-filled voids. Understanding the relationship between porosity and thermal conductivity is important in various fields, such as materials science, geology, and engineering, where heat transfer plays a crucial role.
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Community Answer
With increase in porosity, the thermal conductivity of a solid substan...
Because of the effective phonon scattering in the pores.
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With increase in porosity, the thermal conductivity of a solid substancea)increasesb)decreasesc)remains unchangedd)may increase or decrease; depends on the solidCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
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