What type of energy transfer does conduction involve?

Conduction is a mode of heat transfer that occurs through direct contact between materials without the movement of the materials themselves. It specifically involves the transfer of thermal energy, which is the internal energy contained in the temperature of a substance. When particles in a warmer region of an object vibrate or move more vigorously, they collide with neighboring particles in a cooler region, transferring energy to them. This process continues until thermal equilibrium is reached.

In this context, thermal energy is essential because it describes the energy that particles possess due to their temperature, which is precisely what conduction exploits to transfer heat through solid materials. Understanding this mechanism is crucial in fields such as physics and engineering, where managing thermal energy is necessary for effective heat transfer applications.