What is the SI unit of thermal conductivity?

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Multiple Choice

What is the SI unit of thermal conductivity?

Explanation:
Thermal conductivity tells how much heat moves through a material per unit area for a given temperature gradient. The heat flux q'' (watts per square meter) relates to the temperature gradient ∂T/∂x (kelvin per meter) via q'' = -k ∂T/∂x. To make the units balance, k must convert the temperature gradient into a heat flux: (W/m^2) ÷ (K/m) = W/(m·K). Writing it as W/(m·K) avoids ambiguity and is the standard SI form. The other options don’t match this relationship: J/(m·K) doesn’t account for the per-area heat flux, and N·s/m^3 isn’t the unit for thermal conductivity.

Thermal conductivity tells how much heat moves through a material per unit area for a given temperature gradient. The heat flux q'' (watts per square meter) relates to the temperature gradient ∂T/∂x (kelvin per meter) via q'' = -k ∂T/∂x. To make the units balance, k must convert the temperature gradient into a heat flux: (W/m^2) ÷ (K/m) = W/(m·K). Writing it as W/(m·K) avoids ambiguity and is the standard SI form. The other options don’t match this relationship: J/(m·K) doesn’t account for the per-area heat flux, and N·s/m^3 isn’t the unit for thermal conductivity.

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