In heat transfer, what is the term for the movement of heat from a fluid to a solid surface?

The movement of heat from a fluid to a solid surface is best described by the term convection. Convection refers to the process where heat is transferred through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases), where warmer areas of a fluid rise while cooler areas sink, creating a circulation pattern that facilitates heat transfer.

When a fluid, such as air or water, comes into contact with a solid surface, the heat is transferred to the solid through convection. This process is crucial in various applications, such as heating systems and cooling systems, where maintaining temperature balance is essential.

Conduction, on the other hand, pertains to heat transfer within a solid material or between solids in direct contact, without the movement of the material itself. Radiation involves the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves and does not require a medium, which distinguishes it from convection clearly. Friction, while it generates heat, is not a mode of heat transfer in the context of moving heat between a fluid and a solid. Thus, convection is the correct answer as it specifically describes the process involving fluids.