In which of the following is radiation the only type of heat transfer?

A. Liquid

B. Gas

C. Vacuum

D. Solid

C. Vacuum

Explanation:

There are three methods of transfer of heat:

1) Conduction: conduction is the transfer of heat by direct contact between the molecules of two objects (or two substances). The particles of the hotter object vibrate faster than the particles of the colder object, so energy is transferred by collisions of the molecules from the hotter object to the colder object.

2) Convection: convection is the transfer of heat by mass movement of molecules. This occurs in fluids (liquids or gases), when an external source of heat is applied to the fluid. As a result, the part of the fluid closer to the source gets warmer, so it becomes less dense and rises, while the colder part sinks and replaces the hotter part, forming a convective current. The process continues until the heat source is removed.

3) Radiation: radiation is the transfer of heat carried by electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic waves can travel in any medium and in a vacuum, so they are the only type of heat transfer that can occur in a vacuum (while conduction and convection cannot occur in a vacuum).