How does radiant heat travel?

Radiant heat travels in wave form, which is a fundamental characteristic of electromagnetic radiation. This mode of heat transfer does not require a medium; instead, it can occur through the vacuum of space, allowing heat to reach us from distant sources, such as the sun. Radiant heat is emitted as energy waves, which can be absorbed by materials upon contact, leading to an increase in the temperature of those materials.

In contrast, conduction involves the transfer of heat through direct contact between molecules in a substance, meaning it is reliant on physical contact. Similarly, direct contact pertains to conduction, not radiant heat. Chemical reactions do not describe heat transfer; rather, they involve the transformation of substances and may produce or absorb heat as a byproduct. Thus, describing radiant heat in wave form underscores its unique properties and mechanisms in the context of thermal energy transfer.