[time-nuts] Mass vs BTU Function

[J. Forster]

I got the Thermal Diffusivity definition upside down.

-John

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> At 05:33 PM 1/27/2011, J. Forster wrote...
>>If you want the thermal mass to behave close to an isothermal body,
>>diffusivity is very important.
>>
>>For example, a large mass of still water has high heat capacity, but
>>poor
>>diffusivity. Much of the heat capacity is useless.
>
> If the equation given ["Thermal Diffusivity" = (Specific Heat) /
> (Thermal Conductivity)] is correct, then lower conductivity is desired
> for greater diffusitivity.
>
> I'm not clear on how low conductivity helps make an isothermal mass -
> intuitively, it seems the opposite is desired, so that any local
> temperature variations are quickly balanced through conduction.
>
>