Heat transfer is the process by which thermal energy is exchanged between physical systems, depending on the temperature and the medium used. There are multiple modes of heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation. In this exercise, we focus on conduction, which is the transfer of heat through a material without the movement of the material itself.
For conduction, the heat transfer rate can be calculated using the formula:
- where is the heat transfer per unit of time (measured in watts), is the thermal conductivity of the material, is the cross-sectional area through which the heat is conducted, is the temperature difference across the material, and is the thickness or length of the material.
Understanding these components helps us assess how effectively different materials transfer heat. For example, copper and brass have different thermal conductivities, affecting how heat is transferred through each part of the composite rod.