A metal saucepan has a plastic handle. When the saucepan is placed on a hot stove, the metal body quickly gets hot, but the plastic handle remains cool enough to touch.
Which statement explains why the metal body gets hot quickly while the plastic handle remains cool?
Metals are good thermal conductors, whereas plastic is a poor thermal conductor.
Metals are poor thermal conductors, whereas plastic is a good thermal conductor.
Metals are good emitters of infrared radiation, whereas plastic is a poor emitter.
Metals are poor absorbers of infrared radiation, whereas plastic is a good absorber.
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.