Electrical Engineering XYZ MCQs
Which of the following materials is generally used in heat sink:
- Carbon
- Iron
- Silver
- Aluminium
Correct answer: 4. Aluminium
Explanation: A heat sink is a device that helps dissipate heat away from electronic components, such as computer processors, to prevent overheating and damage. The choice of material for a heat sink is crucial because it needs to efficiently conduct heat away from the component.
Aluminium is the most commonly used material for heat sinks due to its excellent thermal conductivity and lightweight properties. When a heat sink made of aluminium is attached to a hot component, such as a CPU, it quickly absorbs and transfers the heat away from the component to the surrounding air. This helps in cooling down the electronic device effectively.
While other materials like copper and silver also have high thermal conductivity, aluminium is preferred for heat sinks in many applications due to its cost-effectiveness and adequate thermal performance. Carbon and iron, on the other hand, have much lower thermal conductivity compared to aluminium and are not commonly used in heat sink construction.