Final answer:
Conduction is the heat transfer mechanism in the conducting zone that occurs due to temperature differences and does not require an external energy source. It relies on the thermal conductivity of materials and spontaneous energy dispersal from hot to cold regions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The heat transfer mechanism in the conducting zone is referred to as conduction. This process involves the transfer of heat energy through collisions between neighboring atoms and molecules that are in direct contact with each other. For energy transfer by heat to occur through conduction between two bodies, a temperature difference must exist between them, which drives the transfer of thermal energy from the warmer object to the cooler one.
Conduction is a spontaneous process that does not require an external input of energy. However, the effectiveness of conduction depends on the thermal conductivity of the material and the temperature gradient across it. As a rule, metals are good conductors of heat, whereas materials like wood or Styrofoam are poor conductors and serve as good insulators. Some everyday examples of conduction include a metal spoon heating up in a hot liquid or heat transferring from the warm ground to your bare feet.