The rate of heat transfer through a surface can be determined using the equation for heat conduction, which is based on Fourier's Law. Fourier's Law states that the rate of heat transfer through a material is proportional to the surface area, temperature difference, and thermal conductivity of the material, and inversely proportional to the thickness of the material.
The equation for heat conduction is:
Q = (k * A * ΔT) / d
Where: Q is the rate of heat transfer (measured in watts or joules per second). k is the thermal conductivity of the material (measured in watts per meter per Kelvin). A is the surface area through which heat is transferred (measured in square meters). ΔT is the temperature difference across the material (measured in Kelvin or degrees Celsius). d is the thickness of the material (measured in meters).
By plugging in the appropriate values for the variables in this equation, you can calculate the rate of heat transfer through the given surface.