Formula for thermal conductivity

Welcome back MEDIC — missed you this week. The formula for thermal conductivity ($k$) is derived from Fourier's Law of Heat Conduction. It relates the rate of heat transfer ($Q/t$) through a material to the temperature gradient and the area of heat transfer.

$\frac{Q}{t} = -k A \frac{dT}{dx}$

Where:

• $Q/t$ is the rate of heat transfer (in Watts, W)
• $k$ is the thermal conductivity (in W/(m·K))
• $A$ is the cross-sectional area through which heat is flowing (in m²)
• $dT/dx$ is the temperature gradient (in K/m)

Rearranging to solve for thermal conductivity ($k$):

$k = -\frac{Q}{t} \frac{1}{A} \frac{dx}{dT}$

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