Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Secondary Integrated Science Practice test

What is the process of conduction?

1. Transfer of energy through electromagnetic waves

2. Transfer of heat energy through a fluid

3. Transfer of energy from one substance to another by contact

4. General energy conservation in fluids

The correct answer is: Transfer of energy from one substance to another by contact

The process of conduction refers specifically to the transfer of heat energy through direct contact between substances. When two objects are at different temperatures, heat will flow from the hotter object to the cooler one until they reach thermal equilibrium. This occurs at the molecular level, where faster-moving (hotter) molecules collide with slower-moving (cooler) molecules, thereby transferring kinetic energy. Conduction is distinct from other forms of heat transfer such as convection, which involves the movement of fluids, and radiation, which involves the transfer of energy through electromagnetic waves. This understanding helps clarify why conduction specifically relates to direct contact, contrasting with other processes that do not require physical contact to transfer energy.