What is conduction?

What is conduction?

• A. Process of heat flowing through a substance from higher temperature areas to lower temperature areas
• B. Transfer of heat by electromagnetic waves
• C. Heat transfer by moving fluids
• D. Phase change of materials

Answer: (A)

Conduction is heat transfer through a substance from regions of higher temperature to regions of lower temperature, driven by molecular interactions and, in metals, by free electrons transferring energy rapidly. It happens mainly by direct contact or within a solid, not by moving fluids or by waves. For example, a hot end of a metal rod warms the cooler end as energy is passed along through atomic collisions and electron movement. The other descriptions refer to different heat transfer modes: radiation is heat transfer by electromagnetic waves, convection is heat transfer by the movement of fluids, and phase change involves energy transfer during a change of state (latent heat).

Conduction is heat transfer through a substance from regions of higher temperature to regions of lower temperature, driven by molecular interactions and, in metals, by free electrons transferring energy rapidly. It happens mainly by direct contact or within a solid, not by moving fluids or by waves. For example, a hot end of a metal rod warms the cooler end as energy is passed along through atomic collisions and electron movement.

The other descriptions refer to different heat transfer modes: radiation is heat transfer by electromagnetic waves, convection is heat transfer by the movement of fluids, and phase change involves energy transfer during a change of state (latent heat).