What physical process involves the absorption of heat and results in a temperature change of a substance?

The physical process that involves the absorption of heat and leads to a temperature change of a substance is thermal expansion. When a substance absorbs heat, its particles gain kinetic energy, causing them to move more vigorously. This increased movement results in the substance expanding, which is a manifestation of the temperature change. In solids, liquids, and gases, when heat is added, the increased energy leads to a change in volume due to the increased distance between particles.

While conduction, convection, and radiation are all mechanisms of heat transfer, they do not inherently describe the temperature change in a substance as a direct result of heat absorption. Conduction involves the transfer of heat through direct contact, convection entails the transfer of heat through fluid movement, and radiation refers to heat transfer in the form of electromagnetic waves. Thus, thermal expansion specifically correlates with the absorption of heat and the resulting temperature change, making it the correct choice.