What happens to the rate of heat transfer as the temperature difference between two objects increases?

The rate of heat transfer between two objects is fundamentally influenced by the temperature difference between them. According to the principles of thermodynamics, specifically Fourier's law of heat conduction, the rate of heat transfer is directly proportional to the temperature difference. As this difference increases, the driving force for heat transfer becomes stronger, resulting in an increased rate of heat flow from the hotter object to the cooler one.

This connection can be observed in various contexts, such as when heating an object on a stove or cooling it in a refrigerating environment. For example, if a piece of metal is taken out from a heated oven, it will cool down more quickly if the surrounding air is at a significantly lower temperature compared to the metal. The greater the temperature difference, the faster the heat will transfer until thermal equilibrium is reached.

In this scenario, the selection of the correct answer reflects the foundational concept that heat transfer is propelled by the pursuit of equilibrium, where energy naturally moves from areas of higher energy (higher temperature) to areas of lower energy (lower temperature), thus increasing the rate of heat transfer as the temperature difference broadens.