What best describes conduction heat loss?

Conduction heat loss refers to the process of heat transfer through direct contact between materials of different temperatures. In the context of the human body, this form of heat loss occurs when body heat is transferred to nearby objects or surfaces that are at a lower temperature through direct physical contact. For instance, if a person sits on a cold metal surface, heat from the body will move into the metal through conduction, cooling the body in the process.

The other choices describe different methods of heat loss: Heat loss to surrounding air pertains to convection, where warmer air next to the skin is replaced by cooler air. Sweat evaporation refers to evaporative heat loss, where heat is removed as sweat changes from liquid to gas. Infrared radiation involves heat loss through emitted thermal radiation, which does not require direct contact with another object. Each of these processes plays a role in thermoregulation, but conduction specifically relates to the transfer of heat through direct contact with cooler objects.