Final answer:
Cooking pots have wooden handles or require protective gloves/towel to prevent burns from heat transfer. The heat transfer occurs through conduction. The wooden handle acts as an insulator, while gloves/towel provide insulation between your hand and the hot pot.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cooking pots often have a wooden handle or require the use of protective gloves or a towel when handling because they prevent burns from the transfer of heat through conduction. Conduction is the transfer of heat energy through direct contact between two objects at different temperatures. The wooden handle acts as an insulator, reducing the amount of heat transferred to your hand. Similarly, gloves or a towel provide a layer of insulation between your hand and the hot pot, preventing burns.
Learn more about heat transfer through conduction