Final answer:
The temperature difference between two substances determines the rate of heat transfer, with a greater difference leading to a higher transfer rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, the temperature difference between two substances is a crucial factor that determines the rate of heat transfer between them.
Heat transfer occurs from regions of higher temperature to regions of lower temperature, driven by the thermal energy gradient. The greater the temperature difference, the higher the rate of heat transfer.
This relationship is described by Fourier's Law of Heat Conduction for conduction, which states that the heat transfer rate (Q) is proportional to the temperature difference (ΔT) and is also influenced by the thermal conductivity (k) of the material:
Q = -k . A . d{ΔT} / {d}
where:
- (Q) is the heat transfer rate,
- (k) is the thermal conductivity of the material,
- (A) is the cross-sectional area through which heat is transferred,
- (ΔT) is the temperature difference, and
- (d) is the thickness of the material.
In the case of convection and radiation, the temperature difference is also a critical factor affecting the rate of heat transfer. In general, a larger temperature difference results in a higher rate of heat transfer between two substances.