What is the term for the movement of heat by direct contact?

The term for the movement of heat by direct contact is conduction. This process occurs when heat energy is transferred between two objects or substances that are in direct physical contact with each other. During conduction, thermal energy flows from the hotter object to the cooler object until they reach thermal equilibrium. This transfer is facilitated by the vibration and collision of particles within the material, allowing for energy to be passed along the contact points.

In contrast, convection refers to heat transfer through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases), where warmer regions of a fluid rise and cooler regions sink. Radiation involves the transfer of heat in the form of electromagnetic waves, such as infrared radiation, which does not require a medium. Evaporation is a process related to the transition of a substance from liquid to gas, often involving heat absorption but not directly associated with heat transfer through contact. Therefore, conduction is the correct term related to the direct contact transfer of heat.