Which of the following is NOT a type of heat transfer?

Heat transfer occurs through three primary mechanisms: conduction, convection, and radiation. Each of these processes has distinct characteristics and operates within specific contexts.

Conduction refers to the transfer of heat through a material without the movement of the material itself, usually occurring in solids where the heat is transmitted through molecular collisions. This is commonly seen when a metal rod is heated at one end; the heat travels along the rod through direct contact of particles.

Convection involves the movement of fluids (liquids and gases) where warmer areas of a liquid or gas rise and cooler areas sink. This creates a circulation pattern that effectively transfers heat. An example of convection can be found when boiling water: the hot water rises to the top, while cooler water descends to the bottom.

Radiation is the transfer of heat in the form of electromagnetic waves, which can occur in a vacuum, as it does with heat from the sun reaching the Earth. Unlike conduction and convection, radiation does not require a medium to occur.

Compression, on the other hand, is a mechanical process rather than a method of heat transfer. It involves decreasing the volume of a substance, which can lead to increases in temperature as pressure increases. While compression can affect temperature, it does not itself transfer heat