Which term describes the transfer of heat through direct contact?

The term that describes the transfer of heat through direct contact is conduction. This process occurs when heat energy is transferred from one substance to another through molecular collision. For example, when a metal spoon is placed in a hot pot of water, the heat from the water is directly transferred to the spoon, warming it up. Conduction is most efficient in solids, particularly metals, where particles are closely packed, allowing them to transfer energy effectively.

In contrast, convection refers to the transfer of heat through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases) where warmer areas of a fluid rise and cooler areas sink, creating a circulation pattern. Radiation describes the transfer of heat in the form of electromagnetic waves, such as how the sun's warmth reaches the Earth. Absorption is not a method of heat transfer, but rather the process in which a material takes in energy, which may or may not result in a temperature change. Understanding these differences clarifies why conduction is the appropriate term for direct contact heat transfer.