Which method of heat transfer occurs through direct contact?

The method of heat transfer that occurs through direct contact is conduction. This process involves the transfer of thermal energy between particles that are in direct contact with one another. When one object is at a higher temperature than another, the faster-moving particles of the hotter object collide with the slower-moving particles of the cooler object, transferring energy in the form of heat.

This is a fundamental principle in thermodynamics that highlights the importance of molecular interactions in heat transfer. For example, when a pot is placed on a stove, the heat from the burner is conducted through the pot material to its surface, effectively heating whatever is inside the pot.

In contrast, convection involves the movement of fluids (liquids or gases) where warmer parts of the fluid rise and cooler parts sink, creating a current that transfers heat. Radiation does not require any contact between objects and instead transfers energy through electromagnetic waves, as seen with the heat from the sun. Superheat refers specifically to a condition in a refrigerant where it gets heated beyond its boiling point without additional pressure, and is not a method of heat transfer. Thus, conduction is indeed the correct answer to the question of heat transfer through direct contact.