Final answer:
Conduction is a process where heat is transferred through direct physical contact, facilitated by atomic or molecular collisions, and is exemplified by cooking a steak on a hot skillet.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process described is known as conduction, which is a method of heat transfer through stationary matter by means of physical contact. The atomic or molecular collisions result in the direct transmission of heat from a hotter region to a cooler region. As an example, when cooking a steak on a hot iron skillet, the particles of the skillet that are in direct contact with the flame vibrate and collide with neighboring particles, conveying heat through the skillet to the steak. Additionally, adding a layer of oil can enhance the conduction process by increasing the contact surface area and filling in gaps, which facilitates the transfer of heat.