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At what point will the heat flow stop?
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Heat flow stops when there is no net driving force for it — in practice when there is no temperature difference. More precisely:
- For conduction: when the temperature gradient is zero (dT/dx = 0), so Fourier heat flux q = −k dT/dx is zero.
- For radiation: when the bodies are at the same temperature so their emitted powers balance (net radiative exchange = 0).
- For convection: when there is no buoyancy/forced motion producing heat transport, or when the fluid and surfaces are at the same temperature.
In thermodynamic terms, an isolated system stops exchanging heat once it reaches thermal equilibrium (uniform temperature). Note the caveat: you can have a steady state with continuous heat flowing through a system (heat in = heat out) even though the internal temperature profile is constant; that is not thermal equilibrium, only a dynamic steady state.
- For conduction: when the temperature gradient is zero (dT/dx = 0), so Fourier heat flux q = −k dT/dx is zero.
- For radiation: when the bodies are at the same temperature so their emitted powers balance (net radiative exchange = 0).
- For convection: when there is no buoyancy/forced motion producing heat transport, or when the fluid and surfaces are at the same temperature.
In thermodynamic terms, an isolated system stops exchanging heat once it reaches thermal equilibrium (uniform temperature). Note the caveat: you can have a steady state with continuous heat flowing through a system (heat in = heat out) even though the internal temperature profile is constant; that is not thermal equilibrium, only a dynamic steady state.
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