Question

In the Arctic region, hemispherical houses called Igloos are made of ice. It is possible to maintain a temperature inside an Igloo as high as 20°C because

a) ice has high thermal conductivity
b) ice has low thermal conductivity
c) ice has high specific heat
d) ice has higher density than water

Answer 1

Igloos are able to maintain warm temperatures inside due to the low thermal conductivity of ice, which prevents heat from escaping the structure. This makes it possible to achieve temperatures up to 20°C inside despite the frigid outside temperatures.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the Arctic region, igloos are made of ice which can maintain warmer temperatures inside, despite the cold exterior. The reason it is possible to maintain a temperature inside an igloo as high as 20°C is because ice has low thermal conductivity. This means that ice is not very good at transferring heat, so the warm air generated by body heat, cooking, or other internal sources remains inside the igloo instead of being lost to the outside environment.

Additionally, while ice does have a high specific heat capacity, allowing it to absorb heat well, it's the low thermal conductivity that is key to keeping an igloo warm. Furthermore, the fact that ice is less dense than water is also essential in natural environments as it allows ice to float, forming a protective layer that insulates aquatic life in frozen bodies of water during winter.