Final answer:
The type of heat transfer that occurs when an egg is dropped onto a hot sidewalk is conduction, which involves the transfer of energy through direct physical contact between the hot sidewalk and the cooler egg.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an egg is dropped onto a very hot sidewalk to see if it will fry, the type of heat transfer involved is known as conduction. Conduction refers to the transfer of heat through direct contact between materials at different temperatures. This process involves the movement of energy from the hot sidewalk to the cooler egg, causing the egg to heat up and possibly cook or fry. The energetic motion of particles within the hot sidewalk causes them to collide with the particles on the surface of the egg, transferring energy from the sidewalk to the egg.
A real-world example of this is when cooking a steak on a hot iron skillet. The skillet, heated by a flame, transfers heat to the steak via contact, allowing the steak to cook. Similar to this, the egg on the hot sidewalk absorbs heat through its contact with the sidewalk, increasing the egg's temperature if conditions are right for frying.