What is Thermal Conduction?

If one end of a metal rod is placed in a stove, the temperature of the other end gradually increases. Heat is transferred from one end of the rod to the other end. This transfer takes place due to molecular collisions and the process is called heat conduction. The molecules at one end of the rod gain heat from the stove and their average kinetic energy increases. As these molecules collide with collide with the neighbouring molecules having less kinetic energy, the energy is shared between these two groups. The kinetic energy of these neighbouring molecules increases. As they collide with their neighbours on the colder side, they transfer energy to them. This way, heat is passed along the rod from molecule to molecule. The average position of a molecule does not change and hence, there is no mass movement of matter.