What term do we use to describe heat transferring to an object from the body?

• A. Conduction
• B. Radiation
• C. Convection
• D. Evaporation

Answer: (A)

Conduction is the heat transfer that happens when two objects are in direct contact and energy moves from the hotter one to the cooler one through molecular interactions at the boundary. In this case, the body acts as the heat source and the object as the receiver, so heat flows into the object as molecules collide and transfer kinetic energy across the contact surface. The rate depends on how hot the body is relative to the object, how large the contact area is, and how well the object conducts heat (metals transfer heat quickly, insulators do so slowly). By contrast, radiation would move heat without contact, convection involves moving fluids carrying heat, and evaporation involves phase change rather than direct contact heat transfer.