Nate Core Practice Test 2026 – Comprehensive Exam Prep

When air moves over a cooled surface, the type of energy transfer that occurs is convection. This process involves the movement of fluid (in this case, air) and is characterized by the transfer of heat energy due to the physical movement of the fluid. As the air comes into contact with the cooled surface, it loses heat energy to that surface and becomes cooler itself. The cooler, denser air then sinks, making way for warmer air to rise and continue this cycle of heat transfer. This movement of air not only helps to distribute the cooled air evenly but also efficiently transfers thermal energy away from the surface.

In contrast, conduction refers to heat transfer through direct contact between materials, without the movement of the materials themselves. Radiation involves the transfer of heat in the form of electromagnetic waves, such as infrared radiation, which does not require a medium to travel through. Evaporation is a process that involves the change of a liquid into a gas, which can absorb heat but is not the primary mechanism of energy transfer when discussing air movement over a surface. Thus, convection is the most appropriate term to describe the energy transfer in this scenario.