From the study of thermodynamics, you have learned that energy can be transferred
by interactions of a system with its surroundings. These interactions are
called work and heat. However, thermodynamics deals with the end states of the
process during which an interaction occurs and provides no information concerning
the nature of the interaction or the time rate at which it occurs. The objective of this
text is to extend thermodynamic analysis through study of the modes of heat transfer
and through development of relations to calculate heat transfer rates.
In this chapter we lay the foundation for much of the material treated in the
text. We do so by raising several questions. What is heat transfer? How is heat
transferred? Why is it important? One objective is to develop an appreciation for
the fundamental concepts and principles that underlie heat transfer processes. A
second objective is to illustrate the manner in which a knowledge of heat transfer
may be used with the first law of thermodynamics (conservation of energy) to solve
problems relevant to technology and society.