| |
 |
UNIVERSITY OF BUCHAREST
FACULTY OF PHYSICS Guest
2026-06-11 23:58 |
 |
|
|
|
Conference: Bucharest University Faculty of Physics 2026 Meeting
Section: Physics and Technology of Renewable and Alternative Energy Sources
Title:
From experiment to model: An interactive application for teaching thermal conductivity
Authors:
Matei ZICHIȘANU, Adriana-Elena BĂLAN, Sanda Cristina VOINEA
Affiliation:
University of Bucharest, Faculty of Physics, 405 Atomiștilor str., PO Box MG-38, Bucharest-Măgurele, România
E-mail
matei.zichisanu@yahoo.com
Keywords:
Thermal conductivity, heat conduction, interactive simulation, experimental data analysis
Abstract:
This paper reports the development of an open-source interactive application intended to support the study of thermal conductivity through the systematic comparison of experimental laboratory measurements with the corresponding theoretical description of steady-state heat conduction in solids. The proposed tool is designed primarily for university students, as a support instrument for data analysis, model validation, and conceptual understanding of heat transfer processes in metallic samples. The application implements the one-dimensional stationary heat conduction model for a metallic bar subjected to heat losses to the surrounding environment. Under these assumptions, the temperature field is described by an exponential profile derived from Fourier’s law, where the decay parameter depends on the thermal conductivity of the material, the heat exchange coefficient with the environment, and the geometrical characteristics of the sample. By introducing measured temperature values obtained at different positions along the bar, users are able to directly compare the experimental thermal profile with the theoretical prediction and to assess the extent to which the model accounts for the observed behavior. The software is developed as an event-driven desktop/web application integrating vectorized numerical calculations and real-time graphical rendering. The mathematical core enables rapid generation of the theoretical temperature distribution, while the graphical interface provides simultaneous visualization of the analytical curve and of a physical representation of the thermal gradient along the bar. The application provides a computational environment for comparing experimental temperature profiles with the analytical steady-state solution of heat conduction, thereby supporting model validation and quantitative interpretation. Distributed as open-source software, it ensures accessibility, transparency, and adaptability for both university laboratories and physics teaching in pre-university education.
|
|
|
|