THERMAL DIFFUSIVITY Diffusion is the process by which material is transported by the random thermal motion of the molecules within

the uid, even in the absence of any mean ow. Thermal diusion is the process of transfer of energy due to the random motion of molecules when there is a variation in the temperature in the system. The diusivity and thermal conductivity are related by De = K nmCv = K Cv where is the mass density De is the thermal diusivity, A measure of a materials ability to respond to changes in its thermal environment or inertia. The measure of the rate at which a temperature disturbance at one point in a body travels to another point. In a substance with high thermal diffusivity, heat moves rapidly through because the substance conducts heat quickly relative to its volumetric heat capacity or 'thermal bulk'. It is expressed by the relationship K/dCp,
It has the SI unit of m/s. The formula is:

where is thermal conductivity (W/(mK)) is density (kg/m) is specific heat capacity (J/(kgK))

Thermal diffusivity includes the effects of properties like mass density, thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity. Thermal diffusivity, which is very important in all unsteady heat-conduction problems, is a property of the solid object. The time rate of change of temperature depends on its numerical value. The physical significance of thermal diffusivity is associated with the diffusion of heat into the medium during changes of temperature with time. The higher thermal diffusivity coefficient signifies the faster penetration of the heat into the medium and the less time required to remove the heat from the solid.

THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
Thermal conductivity, k, is the property of a material that indicates its ability to conduct heat. It appears primarily in Fourier's Law for heat conduction.

FOURIER'S LAW OF HEAT CONDUCTION

The law of heat conduction, also known as Fourier's law, states that the rate, in time, of heat transfer through a material is proportional to the negative gradient in the temperature and to the area at right angles, to that gradient, through which the heat is flowing.
The minus sign indicates that the temperature decreases in the direction of heat transport and, hence, the temperature gradient is a negative quantity. Fourier's Law express conductive heat transfer as q = k A dT / s where A = heat transfer area (m2, ft2) k = thermal conductivity of the material (W/m.K or W/m oC, Btu/(hr oF ft2/ft)) dT = temperature difference across the material (K or oC, oF) s = material thickness (m, ft) -A rate equation that allows determination of the conduction heat flux from knowledge of the temperature distribution in a medium. (1)

- Implications of Fouriers Law: 1. Heat transfer is in the direction of decreasing temperature (basis for minus sign). 2. Fouriers Law serves to define the thermal conductivity of the Medium MOMENTUM DIFFUSIVITY

Momentum diffusivit y

Newton's law of viscosity It states that the shear stress between adjacent fluid layers is proportional to the negative value of the velocity gradient between the two layers. Force = mass acceleration = mass velocity/time = = momentum/time Therefore, (3.1.3) also states that the rate of momentum transfer per unit area, between two adjacent layers of fluid, is proportional to the negative value of the velocity gradient between them. The ratio of fluid viscosity to density, /. This ratio is called the kinematic viscosity of a fluid, v,. Therefore, by analogy, the kinematic viscosity is also referred to as the momentum diffusivity of the fluid, i.e. the ability of the fluid to transport momentum.