Which method of heat transfer occurs via electromagnetic waves?

The correct answer is radiation, as this method of heat transfer occurs through electromagnetic waves. Unlike conduction and convection, which require physical matter to transfer heat—conduction through direct contact between materials and convection through the movement of fluids—radiation can take place in a vacuum, where no matter is present. This principle is exemplified by how the Sun's energy reaches the Earth through the vacuum of space.

Radiation involves the emission of electromagnetic waves, such as infrared radiation, which carry energy away from a hot object. When these waves encounter another object, they can be absorbed, leading to an increase in the object's temperature. This process does not depend on the medium through which it travels, making radiation unique among the methods of heat transfer.