Question

which is a form of heat transfer that is reduced by using a pot holder when taking a hot dish out of an oven?
absorption
conduction
convection
radiation

Explanation:

• Absorption: Absorption is the process of a substance taking in another substance (like a sponge absorbing water). It is not a form of heat transfer relevant here.
• Conduction: Conduction is the transfer of heat through direct contact between materials. A pot holder is an insulator. When you use a pot holder to take a hot dish out of the oven, the pot holder (a poor conductor of heat) reduces the heat transfer from the hot dish (a good conductor of heat) to your hand (by direct contact).
• Convection: Convection is the transfer of heat through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases). Since the pot - holder is a solid and the heat transfer in question is between the hot dish (solid) and your hand (solid, with the pot - holder in between), convection is not the relevant heat - transfer mechanism here.
• Radiation: Radiation is the transfer of heat in the form of electromagnetic waves. It does not require a medium (unlike conduction and convection). Using a pot - holder does not primarily affect heat transfer by radiation as radiation would occur even without the pot - holder (e.g., heat from the sun (radiation) reaches us without a “holder” - like medium in space).

Answer:

B. conduction