Which term describes the ability to transfer heat through a material?

The term that best describes the ability to transfer heat through a material is thermal conductivity. This property refers to how well a material conducts heat, indicating its efficiency in allowing thermal energy to pass through it. High thermal conductivity means a material can transfer heat more readily, while low thermal conductivity suggests it acts as an insulator.

In the context of fire behavior, understanding thermal conductivity is crucial as it affects how heat spreads through building materials, which can influence fire spread and the effectiveness of fire control measures. For example, metals typically have high thermal conductivity, allowing heat to spread quickly, whereas materials like wood or foam have low thermal conductivity, resulting in slower heat transfer.

Thermal resistance, on the other hand, measures a material's ability to resist heat flow, which is the inverse of thermal conductivity. Specific heat refers to the amount of heat needed to change a material's temperature, and heat capacity refers to the total amount of heat an object can store. While these terms are related to heat transfer and storage, they do not directly address the ability of a material to conduct heat.