A student has an aluminum rod and a plastic rod. Both rods have the exact same dimensions.
The student places one end of each rod into a beaker of boiling water.
After a few minutes, the student touches the ends not in the boiling water.
Which statement is correct?
The aluminum rod feels hotter than the plastic rod because aluminum is a better thermal conductor than plastic.
The aluminum rod feels cooler than the plastic rod because aluminum is a better thermal conductor than plastic.
The plastic rod feels hotter than the aluminum rod because plastic is a better thermal conductor than aluminum.
The plastic rod feels cooler than the aluminum rod because plastic is a better thermal conductor than aluminum.
301 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics 2.3 Transfer of thermal energy, covering 2.3.1a Thermal conductors and thermal insulators, 2.3.1b Explaining thermal conduction, 2.3.2 Convection, 2.3.3a Thermal radiation, 2.3.3b Surface colour and texture, 2.3.3c Rate of emission and absorption of radiation, and 2.3.4 Consequences of thermal energy transfer. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.