1. Insulators and conductors
Materials that are good at keeping things hot or cold are called
thermal insulators. Thermal insulators trap the air around an
object. If the object is hot, the thermal insulation prevents heat
from escaping from the object, keeping it warm. If the object is
cold, the thermal insulation prevents outside heat from mixing
with the object, keeping it cool.
During the winter, we wear fabrics
that are thermal insulators to trap
the heat around our bodies and
stop it from escaping outside our
clothes!
Doodle’s woolly hat, jumper
and padded gloves are both
fashionable and functional!
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© Boardworks Ltd 2007

2. Insulators and conductors
Materials that are thermal insulators, such as wood and plastic,
are often used in the kitchen. A chef can cook holding a wooden
or plastic saucepan handle while it is on the stove without
burning his or her hands, because heat cannot travel through or
along the handles easily.
Other materials are good at
allowing heat to pass through
them. These materials are
called thermal conductors.
Metal is an example of a
thermal conductor.
Which saucepan handle do you think would be the hottest to
the touch? Why?
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© Boardworks Ltd 2007

3. Insulators and conductors
Materials that are thermal conductors are often good electrical
conductors as well. Metal is a thermal conductor and an
electrical conductor, because it allows heat to travel along it
and electricity to flow through it.
The metal handle on this pot
allows the heat to travel along it
more easily.
Metal is used for the pins in this
plug so that electricity can flow
through it to operate the appliance.
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© Boardworks Ltd 2007