What term refers to the transfer of heat through direct contact?

The term that refers to the transfer of heat through direct contact is conduction. In conduction, heat energy is directly transferred from one physical object to another when they are in contact. This process occurs at the molecular level, where faster-moving (hotter) particles collide with slower-moving (cooler) particles, transferring energy in the process.

For instance, when you touch a hot stove, the heat from the stove is conducted to your skin, which can lead to a burn. This method of heat transfer is efficient in solids, as the particles are tightly packed and can easily transmit kinetic energy from one to another.

Convection involves the transfer of heat through fluids (liquids and gases) by the movement of the fluid itself, not through direct contact. Radiation refers to heat transfer through electromagnetic waves and does not require any medium, so it can occur even through a vacuum. Conditive heat transfer is not a commonly used term; the correct terminology is conduction. Thus, the definition aligns perfectly with the concept of conduction, confirming it as the correct term for heat transfer through direct contact.