Question

A thermos flask is designed to prevent the contents of the flask from losing heat. Which of the following statements concerning the design of thermos flasks is incorrect?

• A. The flask is designed to prevent heat loss by conduction, convection and radiation.
• B. The inner glass walls are silver coated to reduce emitted radiation.
• C. The vacuum between the glass walls prevents heat loss by conduction and convection.
• D. The insulated cap helps enhance heat flow by radiation.

Answer 1

The correct option is D The insulated cap helps enhance heat flow by radiation.

A thermos flask has double walls, which are evacuated and the vacuum bottle is silvered on the inside. The vacuum between the two walls prevents heat being transferred from the inside to the outside by conduction and convection. With very little air between the walls, there is almost no transfer of heat from the inner wall to the outer wall by convection. Conduction can only occur at the points where the two walls meet, at the top of the bottle and through an insulated support at the bottom. The silvered walls reflect back the radiations and prevent them from escaping out.
The insulated cap helps reduce heat loss.