Heat Flow Between Contacting Blocks

This simulation visualises heat conduction when two identical metal blocks, one hot and one cold, are placed in contact. Each block is represented by a grid of cells that solve the 2‑D heat equation, so the colour gradient reveals how heat spreads from the hot face to the cold face cell by cell. Because the system is insulated, no heat is lost and both blocks eventually settle at the mass‑weighted average temperature.

Students can drag the blocks together or use the Bring Together and Separate buttons. A slider adjusts the size ratio of the hot and cold blocks, letting learners see how mass influences the final equilibrium temperature. Turning on Particles displays vibrating atoms that move faster in hotter regions, and a graph tracks the average temperature of each block over time.

Through this interactive model, students explore the principles of thermal conduction, the role of material size in heat transfer, and the concept of thermal equilibrium. They gain intuition about the heat equation, temperature gradients, and energy conservation in insulated systems.