Conductivity bars (STE 12369)

This unique apparatus permits comparison between the thermal conductivities of different metals to be made simply and quickly.  It completely avoids the messy 'melting wax' method of indication neccessary with the more traditional methods.  The moulded baseplate carries bars of four different materials: steel, brass, aluminium and copper, each bar carrying a liquid crystal temperature indicator strip.  For ease of observation, the strips have marker lines every 10mm.  The rate of heat flow is indicated by the colour change passing these markers and by timing the passage a figure for thermal conductivity may be derived to a good degree of accuracy.  The condition of heat from a warm bar to its' end, if cooled may also be shown.

A further advantage of this apparatus is that naked flames or other heat sources are not needed during the actual experiments, a beaker of previously heating water being all that is required.