In what context does radiation transfer heat?

Heat transfer through radiation occurs via electromagnetic waves. This process involves the emission of energy in the form of photons that move through space, allowing heat to be transferred even in a vacuum where there are no particles to facilitate conduction or convection. Unlike conduction, which requires physical contact between materials and relies on molecular vibrations, or convection, which depends on fluid movement, radiation can occur without any medium. This principle explains why the Sun can warm the Earth across the vacuum of space.

Other methods of heat transfer, such as conduction and convection, involve direct material interactions; thus, these concepts are not applicable to the scenario of heat transfer specifically by radiation.