Energy transfer by heat occurs between systems with a temperature difference, even if no work is done. Heat transfer is driven by decreasing temperature, with a higher rate of transfer for larger temperature differences. Heat transfer between a system and its surroundings is represented by Q, with a positive Q indicating heat transfer to the system. For transient processes, the rate of energy transfer to or from a system can be determined by integrating heat (Q) and work (W) terms over time.