What is the process called when heat is conducted from one body to another by molecular energy transfer?

The process where heat is conducted from one body to another through molecular energy transfer is known as conduction. This occurs when warmer molecules collide with cooler ones, transferring their kinetic energy in the process. In solids, particularly metals, this transfer happens efficiently because the closely packed molecules can easily interact with one another.

Conduction is fundamental to understanding how heat spreads in materials, making it crucial in the study of fire behavior, as it influences how flames and heat might propagate through objects or structures. Understanding this concept allows firefighters and fire scientists to predict how quickly a fire can spread through various materials. The other processes mentioned—radiation, convection, and diffusion—do not specifically refer to the transfer of heat through direct molecular contact, which sets conduction apart as the correct answer in this context.