What is the term for the movement of heat between objects that are in direct contact?

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The movement of heat between objects that are in direct contact is referred to as conduction. This process occurs when two objects at different temperatures are in physical contact, allowing heat energy to transfer from the hotter object to the cooler one until thermal equilibrium is reached. The effectiveness of conduction depends on the materials involved, as some materials, like metals, conduct heat very well, while others, like wood or rubber, are poorer conductors.

To further understand, convection involves the transfer of heat through fluids (liquids or gases) where warmer areas of a liquid or gas rise and cooler areas sink. Radiation refers to the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves and does not require direct contact or a medium to transfer heat, as seen with the sun warming the earth. Insulation refers to materials used to reduce the rate of heat transfer and does not describe a heat transfer process. Thus, conduction is indeed the correct term for direct heat transfer between contacting objects.