Final answer:
Heat transfer between two objects is governed by their temperature difference, surface area, material conductivity, and thickness, not by volume difference.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering heat transfer between two surfaces, the rate of heat transfer does not depend directly on differences in volume, but on several other factors. According to the principle of heat conduction, if two objects at different temperatures are brought into contact, heat will flow from the object with higher temperature T₂ to the object with lower temperature T₁ until thermal equilibrium is achieved. The rate of heat transfer, or the amount of heat that flows per unit time, is directly proportional to the surface area A, the temperature difference T₂ - T₁, and the thermal conductivity of the material k. It is inversely proportional to the thickness d of the material through which heat is flowing.
For example, the rate of heat transfer by conduction through a material like window glass or walrus blubber can be affected by these factors. It’s important to note that other mechanisms of heat transfer, such as convection and radiation, might involve additional variables and considerations.