Which description defines conduction?

Which description defines conduction?

• A. Heat transfer due to direct contact via molecular agitation within a material
• B. Heat transfer due to the motion of a fluid; like circulation
• C. Heat transfer via electromagnetic radiation
• D. Heat transfer that occurs as a chemical reaction

Answer: (A)

Conduction is heat transfer through direct contact via the interactions of particles in a material. When one area is hotter, its particles have more kinetic energy and transfer some of that energy to neighboring cooler particles through collisions and vibrations, spreading the thermal energy through the substance. In metals, free electrons also play a major role by rapidly shuttling energy from hot to cold regions. This type of transfer happens within solids and liquids that are in contact (or between objects in contact) and does not require bulk fluid motion or radiation. It’s different from convection, which relies on moving fluids, radiation, which uses electromagnetic waves, and any process involving a chemical reaction.

Conduction is heat transfer through direct contact via the interactions of particles in a material. When one area is hotter, its particles have more kinetic energy and transfer some of that energy to neighboring cooler particles through collisions and vibrations, spreading the thermal energy through the substance. In metals, free electrons also play a major role by rapidly shuttling energy from hot to cold regions. This type of transfer happens within solids and liquids that are in contact (or between objects in contact) and does not require bulk fluid motion or radiation. It’s different from convection, which relies on moving fluids, radiation, which uses electromagnetic waves, and any process involving a chemical reaction.