Here's how it works:
* Molecules have kinetic energy: Molecules are constantly in motion, vibrating and moving around. This motion represents their kinetic energy.
* Collisions transfer energy: When molecules collide, they transfer some of their kinetic energy to each other.
* Heat flow: This transfer of kinetic energy from molecule to molecule results in a flow of heat energy.
Think of it like a chain reaction. As the molecules with higher kinetic energy (hotter) collide with those with lower kinetic energy (colder), they pass on some of their energy, causing the colder molecules to vibrate more and the hotter molecules to slow down.
Conduction is most efficient in solids, where molecules are closely packed, but it also occurs in liquids and gases.
