Physics

Physics

Problem

A laboratory wall is built from a material with thermal conductivity kk. The wall currently has cross-sectional area A0A_0 and thickness L0L_0. The laboratory manager wants to modify only the geometric dimensions so that the rate of thermal energy conduction through the wall is exactly one-half its present value, while the temperature difference across the wall remains unchanged. Which single alteration will achieve this goal? a) Double the cross-sectional area to 2A02A_0 while keeping the thickness L0L_0 unchanged. b) Halve the thickness to 12L0\tfrac{1}{2}L_0 while keeping the area A0A_0 unchanged. c) Double the thickness to 2L02L_0 while keeping the area A0A_0 unchanged. d) Increase the thickness to 2 L0\sqrt{2}\,L_0 while keeping the area A0A_0 unchanged.

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