Q. Consider the following statements:

1. Air is a poor conductor of heat energy primarily because its molecules have large mean free paths, leading to fewer collisions for thermal energy transfer.
2. The absence of free electrons in air is the main reason for its poor thermal conductivity.

Which of the above statements is / are correct?
Answer: Only 1
Notes: Air poorly conducts heat mostly because its molecules have large mean free paths, so heat transfer through collisions is inefficient. The absence of free electrons is significant for electrical, not thermal, conductivity. Therefore, statement 1 is correct while statement 2 misattributes the reason for poor heat conduction in air.