Students should be able to describe how the rate of cooling of abuilding is affected by the thickness and thermal conductivity of itswalls

The rate of cooling of a building is influenced by two main factors: the thickness and the thermal conductivity of its walls.

1. Thickness of the Walls: The thicker the walls of a building, the slower the rate of cooling. This is because thicker walls have more material that can absorb heat, thus slowing down the transfer of heat from the inside of the building to the outside environment. This means that the building will stay warmer for longer.

2. Thermal Conductivity of the Walls: Thermal conductivity refers to the ability of a material to conduct heat. Materials with high thermal conductivity, such as metals, will allow heat to pass through them quickly, leading to a faster rate of cooling. On the other hand, materials with low thermal conductivity, such as wood or insulation materials, will slow down the heat transfer, thus slowing the rate of cooling.

Therefore, to slow down the rate of cooling of a building, one should use materials with low thermal conductivity and make the walls as thick as possible.