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MENTAL MODEL · M4937

Fourier's Law of Heat Conduction

Fourier's Law of Heat Conduction
Learn & MetacognitionHigh supportCognitive Science
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

Heat flux is proportional to the negative of the temperature gradient. This means: energy always spontaneously flows from high to low, and the greater the temperature difference, the faster the flow.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

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Potential energy drives flow. If you want knowledge, capital, or talent to flow, don't push; create a 'temperature difference' (gradient). As long as the gradient is steep enough (pay gap, cognitive gap), flow is a physical necessity that cannot be stopped.

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Heat flux is proportional to the negative of the temperature gradient (q = −k∇T): energy spontaneously flows from high to low temperature, and the greater the temperature difference (gradient), the faster the flow. It is a universal paradigm of 'gradient-driven flow'—as long as a potential difference exists, flow is physically inevitable.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_conductionZH · Explicit
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