Final answer:
The question addresses the calculation of heat flow through an insulated wall by applying physics concepts related to thermal resistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves calculating the rate of heat flow through an insulated wall using the concept of thermal resistance, or R-factor, which is a common topic in high school physics. This equates to a real-world application of the principles of thermodynamics. To compute the rate of heat flow through the wall, we can utilize the formula for steady-state heat flow, Q = ΔT / R, where Q is the heat flow per unit time, ΔT is the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the wall, and R is the total thermal resistance.
For part (a), with the given dimensions and R-factors, we can calculate the individual R-values for the distinct layers and add them up to find the total thermal resistance of the wall. Then, the temperature difference (Δ2°C on the outside and 22°C on the inside) can be applied to the formula to find the heat flow.
For part (b), it's necessary to account for the wooden studs in the insulation, as they represent a parallel path for heat flow with a different R-value due to the different material. We would calculate two heat flow rates: one through the insulation and one through the studs, and then sum these flows to obtain the heat current taking into account the areas that the studs cover versus the insulation.