What is the term for the process by which heat flows through metal?

The process by which heat flows through metal is known as conduction. Conduction is the transfer of heat that occurs in solids, particularly in metals, where atoms are closely packed together. When one part of a metal is heated, the atoms in that area begin to vibrate more vigorously. These vibrations are transferred to neighboring atoms, allowing heat to flow through the material from the hot region to cooler areas.

This property is especially significant in metals due to their structure, which allows free electrons to move and facilitate the transfer of energy through collisions between atoms. Consequently, conductive materials, such as metals, are efficient at transferring heat.

Cohesion refers to the force that holds molecules of the same substance together, which does not pertain to heat transfer. Convection is the process of heat transfer through fluids (liquids or gases) due to the movement of the fluid itself. Radiation, on the other hand, is the transfer of heat in the form of electromagnetic waves, which does not require a medium.