What is the process of heat transfer through solid surfaces, such as metal pipes?

The process of heat transfer through solid surfaces, such as metal pipes, is accurately defined as conduction. This occurs when heat is transferred from one molecule to another within a solid material, as the particles in the solid collide and pass energy to adjacent particles. Metals, due to their closely packed structure and free electrons, are particularly good conductors of heat, allowing for efficient energy transfer.

In contrast, radiation refers to the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves and does not require a medium, while transference is not a standard term recognized in thermodynamics for heat transfer. Solidity, meanwhile, describes the state of being solid but doesn’t elucidate the mechanisms of heat transfer. Thus, conduction is the clear and correct choice in the context of heat transfer through solid materials.