What is the primary factor that conduction depends on?

Conduction is the process of heat transfer through a material without the movement of the material itself. The primary factor that determines the rate of conduction is the temperature difference between the two regions of the material. When there is a temperature gradient, heat flows from the hotter area to the cooler area. The greater the temperature difference, the faster the rate of heat transfer via conduction.

While other factors such as the density and type of material do influence the efficiency of conduction—since different materials conduct heat at different rates based on their intrinsic properties—these are not the primary factors involved. The volume of material can affect the total amount of heat transfer that occurs, but it does not directly influence the rate of conduction itself. Therefore, the temperature difference is the most significant aspect of conduction.