What term refers to the transfer of energy from one object to another, typically experienced as heat?

The term that refers to the transfer of energy from one object to another, typically experienced as heat, is energy transfer. This process occurs when energy moves from a hotter object to a cooler one, such as when a warm cup of coffee loses heat to the surrounding air. Energy transfer is a fundamental concept in thermodynamics and plays a crucial role in various scientific principles, such as conduction, convection, and radiation. It illustrates how energy is not created or destroyed but rather moved between systems, leading to changes in thermal energy and temperature.

In contrast, energy conservation refers to the principle that the total energy in a closed system remains constant over time, energy transformation describes the process of changing energy from one form to another (e.g., from kinetic to potential energy), and energy depletion refers to the reduction of energy resources, often in the context of nonrenewable energy sources. Understanding this distinction helps clarify why energy transfer is specifically associated with the movement and experience of heat.