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Styrofoam is a better insulator of heat than plastic. The plastic allows the heat in and out and the cold in and out. The Styrofoam helps keep the heat in.
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∙ 10y ago
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Is a metal cup a better insulator or a plastic cup a better insulator?
Putting the cup in the freezer keeps ice from melting. Those cups will slow down the melting rate, but if you've got ice at room temperature it's gonna melt eventually. Having said that, ice will melt slowest in a styrofoam cup.
Why does styrofoam get better heat retention?
Styrofoam is a good material for retaining heat. This is because its formation is that of tightly packed air-filled, tiny bubbles of plastic and is fairly thick, which prevents heat from escaping.
Why is styrofoam?
Styrofoam is actually a plastic with lots of tiny bubbles trapped inside of it. Because the foam is packed with bubbles, there is relatively little plastic to conduct heat. The bubbles themselves are too small to set up a convection current, and don't conduct very well because they are gaseous. As a result, the Styrofoam works as an insulator, only letting heat transfer through it slowly
Is plastic or Styrofoam the poorest conductor of heat?
The answer to this question depends on the magic word NIC. NIC is short for non-intercellular. This means that the tiny cells within the foam do not connect with each other. The foam does not soak up lots of water. You can't blow air through it. A plastic foam which is NIC is a very poor conductor of heat - a good insulator. A plastic foam which is intercellular is not a good conductor, but it is nowhere near as poor as NIC foam. Its best use is as a sponge for soaking up water.
Why do Styrofoam cups keep liquid warmer then plastic cups?
This experiment works by assuming a heat balance. You assume that all of the heat in the iron goes into the water and that none of it leaves the system, so you want your experimental apparatus to be as insulating as possible.If you use a cup with poorer insulative properties, you will estimate a lower value for the specific heat of iron. The styrofoam cup is not a perfect insulator, but it is better than plastic or ceramic.You can get a feel for this by pouring three cups of kettle water into plastic, ceramic and styrofoam cups. Leave them sit for a set time. Which one feels the hottest? That one is the best insulator. Which one feels the coolest? That one is the poorest insulator.
Is a metal cup a better insulator or a plastic cup a better insulator?
Putting the cup in the freezer keeps ice from melting. Those cups will slow down the melting rate, but if you've got ice at room temperature it's gonna melt eventually. Having said that, ice will melt slowest in a styrofoam cup.
How well does styrofoam conduct heat?
Yes, styrofoam is full of air cells and air is a good thermal insulator. Styrofoam has poor solvent resistance, and poor hot performance.
Is a mug a bad heat insulator?
Yes. Out of paper, plastic, glass, a thermos, a mug, and Styrofoam, the mug held the least heat in. The thermos is the best.
Is plastic a better insulator than metal?
No, it is not. Metals conduct heat much better than most plastics. However, if the metal is used as a reflector of radiated heat, it will insulate better than plastic would.
What makes styrofoam a good insulator?
Styrofoam is a good insulator because it has tiny air pockets that are warmed by the air around it. Once the air's around it temperature drops the styrofoam gives off the heat stored in the pockets of air.
What contains styrofoam that heat cannot easily transfer?
Styrofoam contain a great quantity of air - air is a heat insulator.
Why is styrofoam an insulator?
Styrofoam has pockets of air. These pockets make it harder for heat to travel through.
Why is plastic an insulator?
Plastic is an insulator meaning it does not conduct heat .
Why does styrofoam get better heat retention?
Styrofoam is a good material for retaining heat. This is because its formation is that of tightly packed air-filled, tiny bubbles of plastic and is fairly thick, which prevents heat from escaping.
Is plastic a heat insulator?
no
Will heat travel faster through a glass cup or a plastic cup?
It depends on the kind of plastic but mostly (I'd think) plastic is a better insulator for heat transport
What keeps water hotter paper or styrofoam?
styrofoam, but warning fammable and unsafe for the environment!
