In the context of heat transfer, what method involves the emission of heat through electromagnetic waves?

The method that involves the emission of heat through electromagnetic waves is radiation. Unlike conduction and convection, which require a medium to transfer heat, radiation can occur through a vacuum or empty space. This process involves the transfer of thermal energy through electromagnetic waves, such as infrared radiation, which is emitted by all objects with a temperature above absolute zero.

Radiation is significant in heat transfer as it allows energy to be transferred over great distances, such as the heat from the sun reaching the Earth. In contrast, conduction refers to the direct transfer of heat through materials via molecular collisions, while convection involves the movement of heat through fluids (liquids and gases) by the motion of the fluid itself, requiring the presence of a medium.