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Conceptual question on heat transfer at steady state after a heated body is immersed in a fluid medium at low temperature

Physics Asked on September 1, 2021

Recently during a discussion with a colleague we got into an argument. The discussion involved imagining a heated solid body at some temperature $T$ which is immersed in a large fluid medium maintained at a temperature $t$. After a long enough time has passed the solid will ultimately come in thermal equilibrium with the surrounding fluid medium and attain the fluid temperature $t$.

My colleague argues that after the time when thermal equilibrium is reached the boundary of the solid body can be treated as insulated/adiabatic as there will be no heat transfer between the solid and the fluid.

Is his conclusion correct ?

Answers with mathematical explanation supporting or refuting the claim are a bonus.

One Answer

There won't be any heat transfer because the solid and the liquid are at the same temperature, so there would be no driving force for heat flow. This does not mean that the surface is insulated. The slightest difference in temperature between the two will cause heat to flow again.

Correct answer by Chet Miller on September 1, 2021

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