What is conduction in the context of heat transfer?

Conduction is defined as the process of heat transfer through direct contact between materials. This occurs when two objects at different temperatures are in contact with each other, allowing energy to flow from the hotter object to the cooler one until thermal equilibrium is reached. In solids, particularly metals, conduction is facilitated by the energy transfer between neighboring atoms or molecules, where the vibrational energy of the hotter particles is passed on to the cooler particles through collisions.

In the context of fire investigation, understanding conduction is vital, as it can help determine how heat spreads through materials in a structure, influencing fire behavior and potentially affecting the outcome of an investigation.

The other options refer to different modes of heat transfer—convection involves heat transfer through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases), which does not apply to direct contact. Heat absorption by materials in the surrounding environment touches on absorption rather than transfer through contact. Radiation describes heat loss through electromagnetic waves rather than physical contact and conduction. Each of these processes is distinct from conduction and plays a role in thermal dynamics, yet they each define a different mechanism of heat transfer.