What does conduction refer to?

Conduction refers specifically to the transfer of energy through direct contact between materials. When molecules in a substance gain energy, they vibrate more rapidly and collide with adjacent molecules, transferring energy in the process. This mode of heat transfer is prominent in solids, where particles are closely packed together, allowing effective energy transfer via these collisions.

In contrast, other methods of energy transfer, such as convection (the transfer of heat by air currents) or radiation (the transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves), do not involve direct contact of particles in the same way. As for heat transfer through liquids, it typically involves convection rather than direct contact energy transfer, where the movement of the liquid itself transports heat. The specificity of conduction to direct contact makes this answer the most accurate in the context of how energy is transferred.