What is the term for the transfer of heat through direct physical contact with nearby objects?

The term for the transfer of heat through direct physical contact with nearby objects is conduction. This process occurs when heat moves from one material to another through direct touch. For example, if you place a metal spoon in a hot pot of soup, the spoon will become warm because the heat from the soup is conducted directly into the spoon through their physical connection.

This physical contact allows thermal energy to transfer from the hotter object (the soup) to the cooler object (the spoon) until both reach a similar temperature. Conduction is a primary mode of heat transfer in solids, where molecules are closely packed together, enabling efficient energy transfer.

In contrast, convection refers to heat transfer through fluids (liquids and gases) due to the movement of the fluid itself, while radiation is the transfer of heat in the form of electromagnetic waves, which does not require a medium. Insulation is a material or method used to reduce heat transfer, helping to maintain temperature but not a method of heat transfer itself. Understanding these differences is crucial in the context of thermal dynamics and emergency medical care.