ME 366 QUIZ 2 ONLINE DATE 12/06/2023.

CONDUCTION HEAT TRANSFER

1. The heat conduction equation in a medium is given in its simplest form as

Select the wrong statement below.

(a) The medium is of cylindrical shape.
(b) The thermal conductivity of the medium is constant.
(c) Heat transfer through the medium is steady.
(d) There is heat generation within the medium.
(e) Heat conduction through the medium is one-dimensional.

2. The heat conduction equation in a medium is given in its simplest forms as:

Select the wrong statement below

(a) heat transfer is transient
(b) heat transfer is one-dimensional
(c) there is no heat generation in the medium
(d) the thermal conductivity of the medium is constant
(e) the medium is of cylindrical shape

3. Consider a large plane wall of thickness L, thermal conductivity k, and surface area A. The left
surface of the wall is exposed to the ambient air at 𝑇∞ with a heat transfer coefficient of h while
the right surface is insulated. The variation of temperature in the wall for steady one-dimensional
heat conduction with no heat generation is

4. A solar heat flux 𝑞𝑠̇ is incident on a sidewalk whose thermal conductivity is k, solar absorptivity
is ∝𝑠 , and convective heat transfer coefficient is h. Taking the positive x direction to be towards
the sky and disregarding radiation exchange with the surroundings surfaces, the correct boundary
condition for this sidewalk surface is
5. A plane wall of thickness L is subjected to convection at both surfaces with ambient temperature
𝑇∞1 and heat transfer coefficient h1 at inner surface, and corresponding 𝑇∞2 and h2 values at the
outer surface. Taking the positive direction of x to be from the inner surface to the outer surface,
the correct expression for the convection boundary condition is

6. Consider steady one-dimensional heat conduction through a plane wall, a cylindrical shell, and a
spherical shell of uniform thickness with constant thermophysical properties and no thermal
energy generation. The geometry in which the variation of temperature in the direction of heat
transfer will be linear is
(a) plane wall
(b) cylindrical shell
(c) spherical shell
(d) all of them
(e) none of them

7. The conduction equation boundary condition for an adiabatic surface with direction n being
normal to the surface is

8. The variation of temperature in a plane wall is determined to be T(x) = 52x + 25 where x is in m

and T is in °C. If the temperature at one surface is 38°C, the thickness of the wall is
(a) 0.10 m
(b) 0.20 m
(c) 0.25 m
(d) 0.40 m
(e) 0.50 m

9. The variation of temperature in a plane wall is determined to be T(x) = 110 - 60x where x is in m
and T is in °C. If the thickness of the wall is 0.75 m, the temperature difference between the inner
and outer surfaces of the wall is
(a) 30°C
(b) 45°C
(c) 60°C
(d) 75°C
(e) 84°C
10. The temperatures at the inner and outer surfaces of a 15-cm-thick plane wall are measured to be
40°C and 28°C, respectively. The expression for steady, one-dimensional variation of
temperature in the wall is
(a) T(x) = 28x + 40
(b) T(x) = -40x + 28
(c) T(x) = 40x + 28
(d) T(x) = -80x + 40
(e) T(x) = 40x – 80

11. The thermal conductivity of a solid depends upon the solid’s temperature as k = aT + b where a
and b are constants. The temperature in a planar layer of this solid as it conducts heat is given by
(a) aT + b = x + C2
(b) aT + b = C1x2 + C2
(c) aT2 + bT = C1x + C2
(d) aT2 + bT = C1x2 1 C2
(e) None of them

12. Hot water flows through a PVC (k = 0.092 W/m·K) pipe whose inner diameter is 2 cm and outer
diameter is 2.5 cm. The temperature of the interior surface of this pipe is 50°C and the
temperature of the exterior surface is 20°C. The rate of heat transfer per unit of pipe length is
(a) 77.7 W/m
(b) 89.5 W/m
(c) 98.0 W/m
(d) 112 W/m
(e) 168 W/m

13. Heat is generated in a long 0.3-cm-diameter cylindrical electric heater at a rate of 180 W/cm3.
The heat flux at the surface of the heater in steady operation is
(a) 12.7 W/cm2
(b) 13.5 W/cm2
(c) 64.7 W/cm2
(d) 180 W/cm2
(e) 191 W/cm2

14. Heat is generated uniformly in a 4-cm-diameter, 12-cm-long solid bar (k = 2.4 W/m·K). The
temperatures at the center and at the surface of the bar are measured to be 210°C and 45°C,
respectively. The rate of heat generation within the bar is
(a) 597 W
(b) 760 W
(c) 826 W
(d) 928 W
(e) 1020 W

15. Heat is generated in a 10-cm-diameter spherical radioactive material whose thermal conductivity
is 25 W/m·K uniformly at a rate of 15 W/cm3. If the surface temperature of the material is
measured to be 120°C, the center temperature of the material during steady operation is
(a) 160°C
(b) 205°C
(c) 280°C
(d) 370°C
(e) 495°C
16. Heat is generated in a 3-cm-diameter spherical radioactive material uniformly at a rate of 15
W/cm3. Heat is dissipated to the surrounding medium at 25°C with a heat transfer coefficient of
120 W/m2·K. The surface temperature of the material in steady operation is
(a) 56°C
(b) 84°C
(c) 494°C
(d) 650°C
(e) 108°C

17. Heat is lost at a rate of 275 W per m2 area of a 15-cm thick wall with a thermal conductivity of k
= 1.1 W/m·K. The temperature drop across the wall is
(a) 37.5°C
(b) 27.5°C
(c) 16.0°C
(d) 8.0°C
(e) 4.0°C

18. Consider a wall that consists of two layers, A and B, with the following values: kA = 0.8 W/m·K,
LA = 8 cm, kB = 0.2 W/m·K, LB = 5 cm. If the temperature drop across the wall is 18°C, the rate of
heat transfer through the wall per unit area of the wall is
(a) 180 W/m2
(b) 153 W/m2
(c) 89.6 W/m2
(d) 72 W/m2
(e) 51.4 W/m2

19. Heat is generated steadily in a 3-cm-diameter spherical ball. The ball is exposed to ambient air at
26°C with a heat transfer coefficient of 7.5 W/m2·K. The ball is to be covered with a material of
thermal conductivity 0.15 W/m·K. The thickness of the covering material that will maximize heat
generation within the ball while maintaining ball surface temperature constant is
(a) 0.5 cm
(b) 1.0 cm
(c) 1.5 cm
(d) 2.0 cm
(e) 2.5 cm

20. Consider a 1.5-m-high and 2-m-wide triple pane window. The thickness of each glass layer (k =
0.80 W/m·K) is 0.5 cm, and the thickness of each air space (k = 0.025 W/m·K) is 1 cm. If the
inner and outer surface temperatures of the window are 10°C and 0°C, respectively, the rate of
heat loss through the window is
(a) 75 W
(b) 12 W
(c) 46 W
(d) 25 W
(e) 37 W
21. Consider two metal plates pressed against each other. Other things being equal, which of the
measures below will cause the thermal contact resistance to increase?
(a) Cleaning the surfaces to make them shinier.
(b) Pressing the plates against each other with a greater force.
(c) Filling the gap with a conducting fluid.
(d) Using softer metals.
(e) Coating the contact surfaces with a thin layer of soft metal such as tin.

22. A 10-m-long 5-cm-outer-radius cylindrical steam pipe is covered with 3-cm thick cylindrical
insulation with a thermal conductivity of 0.05 W/m·K. If the rate of heat loss from the pipe is
1000 W, the temperature drop across the insulation is
(a) 163°C
(b) 600°C
(c) 48°C
(d) 79°C
(e) 251°C

23. A 6-m-diameter spherical tank is filled with liquid oxygen (r = 1141 kg/m3, cp 5 1.71 kJ/kg.°C) at
-184°C. It is observed that the temperature of oxygen increases to -183°C in a 144-hour period.
The average rate of heat transfer to the tank is
(a) 249 W
(b) 426 W
(c) 570 W
(d) 1640 W
(e) 2207 W

24. A 2.5 m-high, 4-m-wide, and 20-cm-thick wall of a house has a thermal resistance of
0.0125°C/W. The thermal conductivity of the wall is
(a) 0.72 W/m·K
(b) 1.1 W/m·K
(c) 1.6 W/m·K
(d) 16 W/m·K
(e) 32 W/m·K

25. Consider two walls, A and B, with the same surface areas and the same temperature drops across
their thicknesses. The ratio of thermal conductivities is kA/kB = 4 and the ratio of the wall
thicknesses is LA/LB = 2. The ratio of heat transfer rates through the walls 𝑄̇𝐴 /𝑄̇𝐵 is
(a) 0.5
(b) 1
(c) 2
(d) 4
(e) 8
26. A hot plane surface at 100°C is exposed to air at 25°C with a combined heat transfer coefficient
of 20 W/m2·K. The heat loss from the surface is to be reduced by half by covering it with
sufficient insulation with a thermal conductivity of 0.10 W/m·K. Assuming the heat transfer
coefficient to remain constant, the required thickness of insulation is
(a) 0.1 cm
(b) 0.5 cm
(c) 1.0 cm
(d) 2.0 cm
(e) 5 cm

27. A room at 20°C air temperature is losing heat to the outdoor air at 0°C at a rate of 1000 W
through a 2.5-m-high and 4-m-long wall. Now the wall is insulated with 2-cm thick insulation
with a conductivity of 0.02 W/m·K. Determine the rate of heat loss from the room through this
wall after insulation. Assume the heat transfer coefficients on the inner and outer surface of the
wall, the room air temperature, and the outdoor air temperature to remain unchanged. Also,
disregard radiation.
(a) 20 W
(b) 561 W
(c) 388 W
(d) 167 W
(e) 200 W

28. A 1-cm-diameter, 30-cm-long fin made of aluminum (k = 237 W/m·K) is attached to a surface at
80°C. The surface is exposed to ambient air at 22°C with a heat transfer coefficient of 11
W/m2·K. If the fin can be assumed to be very long, the rate of heat transfer from the fin is
(a) 2.2 W
(b) 3 W
(c) 3.7 W
(d) 4 W
(e) 4.7 W

29. A 1-cm-diameter, 30-cm-long fin made of aluminum (k = 237 W/m·K) is attached to a surface at
80°C. The surface is exposed to ambient air at 22°C with a heat transfer coefficient of 11
W/m2·K. If the fin can be assumed to be very long, its efficiency is
(a) 0.60
(b) 0.67
(c) 0.72
(d) 0.77
(e) 0.88

30. A hot surface at 80°C in air at 20°C is to be cooled by attaching 10-cm-long and 1-cm-diameter
cylindrical fins. The combined heat transfer coefficient is 30 W/m2·K, and heat transfer from the
fin tip is negligible. If the fin efficiency is 0.75, the rate of heat loss from 100 fins is
(a) 325 W
(b) 707 W
(c) 566 W
(d) 424 W
(e) 754 W
31. A cylindrical pin fin of diameter 0.6 cm and length of 3 cm with negligible heat loss from the tip
has an efficiency of 0.7. The effectiveness of this fin is
(a) 0.3
(b) 0.7
(c) 2
(d) 8
(e) 14

32. A 3-cm-long, 2-mm x 2-mm rectangular cross-section aluminum fin (k = 237 W/m·K) is attached
to a surface. If the fin efficiency is 65 percent, the effectiveness of this single fin is
(a) 39
(b) 30
(c) 24
(d) 18
(e) 7

33. Two finned surfaces with long fins are identical, except that the convection heat transfer
coefficient for the first finned surface is twice that of the second one. What statement below is
accurate for the efficiency and effectiveness of the first finned surface relative to the second one?
(a) Higher efficiency and higher effectiveness
(b) Higher efficiency but lower effectiveness
(c) Lower efficiency but higher effectiveness
(d) Lower efficiency and lower effectiveness
(e) Equal efficiency and equal effectiveness

34. A 20-cm-diameter hot sphere at 120°C is buried in the ground with a thermal conductivity of 1.2
W/m·K. The distance between the center of the sphere and the ground surface is 0.8 m and the
ground surface temperature is 15°C. The rate of heat loss from the sphere is
(a) 169 W
(b) 20 W
(c) 217 W
(d) 312 W
(e) 1.8 W

35. A 25-cm-diameter, 2.4-m-long vertical cylinder containing ice at 0°C is buried right under the
ground. The cylinder is thin-shelled and is made of a high thermal conductivity material. The
surface temperature and the thermal conductivity of the ground are 18°C and 0.85 W/m·K
respectively. The rate of heat transfer to the cylinder is
(a) 37.2 W
(b) 63.2 W
(c) 158 W
(d) 480 W
(e) 1210 W
36. Hot water (cp = 4.179 kJ/kg·K) flows through a 200-m-long PVC (k = 0.092 W/m·K) pipe whose
inner diameter is 2 cm and outer diameter is 2.5 cm at a rate of 1 kg/s, entering at 40°C. If the
entire interior surface of this pipe is maintained at 35°C and the entire exterior surface at 20°C,
the outlet temperature of water is
(a) 39°C
(b) 38°C
(c) 37°C
(d) 36°C
(e) 35°C

37. The walls of a food storage facility are made of a 2-cm-thick layer of wood (k = 0.1 W/m·K) in
contact with a 5-cm-thick layer of polyurethane foam (k = 0.03 W/m·K). If the temperature of the
surface of the wood is -10°C and the temperature of the surface of the polyurethane foam is 20°C,
the temperature of the surface where the two layers are in contact is
(a) -7°C
(b) -2°C
(c) 3°C
(d) 8°C
(e) 11°C

38. The equivalent thermal resistance for the thermal circuit shown here is

39. The 700 m2 ceiling of a building has a thermal resistance of 0.52 m2·K/W. The rate at which heat
is lost through this ceiling on a cold winter day when the ambient temperature is -10°C and the
interior is at 20°C is
(a) 23.1 kW
(b) 40.4 kW
(c) 55.6 kW
(d) 68.1 kW
(e) 88.6 kW
40. A 1-m-inner-diameter liquid-oxygen storage tank at a hospital keeps the liquid oxygen at 90 K.
The tank consists of a 0.5-cm-thick aluminum (k = 170 W/m·K) shell whose exterior is covered
with a 10-cm-thick layer of insulation (k = 0.02 W/m·K). The insulation is exposed to the
ambient air at 20°C and the heat transfer coefficient on the exterior side of the insulation is 5
W/m2·K. The rate at which the liquid oxygen gains heat is
(a) 141 W
(b) 176 W
(c) 181 W
(d) 201 W
(e) 221 W

41. A 1-m-inner-diameter liquid-oxygen storage tank at a hospital keeps the liquid oxygen at 90 K.
The tank consists of a 0.5-cm-thick aluminum (k = 170 W/m·K) shell whose exterior is covered
with a 10-cm-thick layer of insulation (k = 0.02 W/m·K). The insulation is exposed to the
ambient air at 20°C and the heat transfer coefficient on the exterior side of the insulation is 5
W/m2·K. The temperature of the exterior surface of the insulation is
(a) 13°C
(b) 9°C
(c) 2°C
(d) 23°C
(e) 212°C

42. The fin efficiency is defined as the ratio of the actual heat transfer from the fin to
(a) The heat transfer from the same fin with an adiabatic tip
(b) The heat transfer from an equivalent fin which is infinitely long
(c) The heat transfer from the same fin if the temperature along the entire length of the fin is the
same as the base temperature
(d) The heat transfer through the base area of the same fin
(e) None of the above

43. Computer memory chips are mounted on a finned metallic mount to protect them from
overheating. A 152 MB memory chip dissipates 5 W of heat to air at 25°C. If the temperature of
this chip is to not exceed 50°C, the overall heat transfer coefficient–area product of the finned
metal mount must be at least
(a) 0.2 W/°C
(b) 0.3 W/°C
(c) 0.4 W/°C
(d) 0.5 W/°C
(e) 0.6 W/°C

44. In the United States, building insulation is specified by the R-value (thermal resistance in
h·ft2·°F/Btu units). A homeowner decides to save on the cost of heating the home by adding
additional insulation in the attic. If the total R-value is increased from 15 to 25, the homeowner
can expect the heat loss through the ceiling to be reduced by
(a) 25%
(b) 40%
(c) 50%
(d) 60%
(e) 75%
45. A triangular shaped fin on a motorcycle engine is 0.5-cm thick at its base and 3-cm long (normal
distance between the base and the tip of the triangle), and is made of aluminum (k = 150 W/m·K).
This fin is exposed to air with a convective heat transfer coefficient of 30 W/m2·K acting on its
surfaces. The efficiency of the fin is 50 percent. If the fin base temperature is 130°C and the air
temperature is 25°C, the heat transfer from this fin per unit width is
(a) 32 W/m
(b) 47 W/m
(c) 68 W/m
(d) 82 W/m
(e) 95 W/m

46. A plane brick wall (k = 0.7 W/m·K) is 10 cm thick. The thermal resistance of this wall per unit of
wall area is
(a) 0.143 m2·K/W
(b) 0.250 m2·K/W
(c) 0.327 m2·K/W
(d) 0.448 m2·K/W
(e) 0.524 m2·K/W