Insulation

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/insulation

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the modes of heat transfer mitigated?Conduction, convection, and radiation
2. What is the key performance metric?Thermal Resistance (R-value), calculated as thickness divided by thermal conductivity (k)
3. What does insulation do for buildings?It keeps them warm in winter and cool in summer by stopping heat from moving in three ways: conduction, convection, and radiation. It traps air in tiny pockets so heat can’t pass easily.
4. How does fiberglass insulation work?Fiberglass is made of many thin glass fibers that form a maze. The maze traps air, which is a bad heat conductor, so the walls stay cozy.

Thermal Conductivity: A measure of a material's ability to conduct heat.
Embodied Energy: The total energy required to produce a material, from extraction to disposal.
Aerogel: An extremely low-density synthetic porous ultralight material derived from a gel.