Which method does heat travel through direct contact?

The method by which heat travels through direct contact is conduction. In conduction, heat is transferred from one material to another through molecular collisions. When objects at different temperatures touch each other, the faster-moving molecules of the warmer object collide with the slower-moving molecules of the cooler object, causing the cooler object's molecules to gain energy and thus increase in temperature. This process is most effective in solids, especially metals, due to the close proximity of their particles, allowing efficient transfer of thermal energy.

Other methods of heat transfer, such as convection and radiation, do not rely on direct contact. Convection involves the movement of fluids (liquids or gases) where warmer sections rise and cooler sections sink, creating a current that distributes heat. Radiation, on the other hand, involves the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves, such as infrared radiation from a hot surface to surrounding areas, without requiring a medium. Insulation refers to materials used to reduce the transfer of heat and does not describe a method of heat transfer itself.