Final answer:
The rate of conductive heat transfer is directly proportional to the surface area, not inversely. It is the thickness of the material that is inversely proportional to the heat transfer rate according to the formula Q/t = kA(T₂ - T₁) / d.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rate of heat transfer by conduction through a material is influenced by several factors, including the material's thermal conductivity, the temperature difference across the material, its surface area, and its thickness. The formula showing the relationship is Q/t = kA(T₂ - T₁) / d, where Q/t is the rate of heat transfer, k is the thermal conductivity, A is the surface area, (T₂ - T₁) is the temperature difference, and d is the thickness of the material.
From this formula, we can see that the rate of conductive heat transfer is directly proportional to the surface area A and the temperature difference T₂ - T₁, and inversely proportional to the thickness d. However, the rate of heat transfer is not inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area; it is directly proportional to it. So, the statement is incorrect if it suggests that the heat transfer rate is inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area.