Here's why:
* Conduction is the transfer of heat through direct contact between substances.
* Thermal energy is the internal energy of a substance due to the motion of its molecules. The faster the molecules move, the higher the thermal energy.
* When substances are in contact, the faster-moving molecules of the hotter substance collide with the slower-moving molecules of the colder substance. This collision causes the slower molecules to speed up, transferring thermal energy from the hotter to the colder substance.
In summary: Conduction involves the transfer of thermal energy through the collisions of molecules.