Which term best describes heat transfer through solid objects?

The term that best describes heat transfer through solid objects is conduction. This process occurs when heat energy is transferred between molecules in a material without the movement of the material itself. In a solid, the tightly packed molecules vibrate and pass on their energy to neighboring molecules, facilitating the transfer of heat from one part of the object to another.

For example, when one end of a metal rod is heated, the heat travels through the rod to the cooler end due to the direct contact and interaction of the molecules within the solid structure. This is in contrast to convection, which involves heat transfer through fluids (liquids and gases) as a result of the movement of the fluid itself. Radiation refers to heat transfer through electromagnetic waves, and diffusion typically relates to the movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, which is not specific to heat transfer in solids.