Which term refers to heat energy that is transferred through empty space?

Heat energy that is transferred through empty space is referred to as radiation. This process does not require a medium, meaning heat can travel through the vacuum of space. Unlike conduction and convection, which rely on physical contact between particles or the movement of fluids, radiation involves the transfer of energy via electromagnetic waves, such as infrared radiation. Understanding this distinction is important, as it highlights the unique nature of energy transfer in environments where matter is absent, such as in the vastness of space where the Sun's energy reaches the Earth.