What type of heat transfer involves the movement of fluids?

Convection is the type of heat transfer that involves the movement of fluids, whether liquids or gases. This process occurs when warmer parts of a fluid rise while cooler parts sink, creating a circulation pattern. In this way, heat is transferred throughout the fluid as particles move to different areas, effectively distributing thermal energy. This is commonly observed in scenarios such as boiling water, where hot water rises to the surface while cooler water descends.

Conduction, on the other hand, is the transfer of heat through direct contact between solid materials, where thermal energy moves from a hotter object to a cooler one without any movement of the materials themselves. Radiation involves the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves, which can occur in a vacuum and does not require a medium for transfer, such as air or water. Direct flame contact refers to the transfer of heat that occurs when a material comes in direct contact with flames, leading to rapid heating and combustion. Each of these other options involves different mechanisms of heat transfer, distinguishing them from convection.