Thermal conductivity of solids

Problem: Thermal conductivity is an intensive physical property of a material that relates the heat flow through the material per unit area to temperature gradient across the material. The thermal conductivity of a material is basically a measure of its ability to conduct heat. In a wide variety of applications ranging from building insulation to electronics, it is important to determine a material’s thermal conductivity. Typical methods of thermal conductivity measurement can be categorized as either steady-state or non-steadystate. In steady-state techniques, equilibrium heat flux and temperature gradient are measured. In nonsteady-state techniques, a variable heat flux is produced and the time-variant temperature gradient is measured. The method you are asked to investigate involves the transient heating of spherical shaped samples.