How is heat transport from hot sand to the soles of your feet primarily accomplished?

Heat transport from hot sand to the soles of your feet is primarily accomplished by conduction. Conduction is the process of heat transfer through direct contact between materials. When your feet come into contact with the hot sand, thermal energy is transferred from the hot sand molecules, which are vibrating quickly due to their high temperature, to the cooler molecules in your feet. This direct transfer of kinetic energy continues until thermal equilibrium is reached, meaning your feet heat up as they absorb energy from the sand.

In contrast, convection involves the movement of fluid (liquid or gas) and is not applicable in this situation since both sand and feet are solid matter in direct contact with one another. Radiation refers to heat transfer that occurs through electromagnetic waves and doesn't require contact or a medium, and evaporation involves the cooling effect when liquid transforms into vapor, which is not relevant when considering how heat is being transferred to your feet from the sand at that moment.