What is the method of transferring heat that occurs without direct contact?

The method of transferring heat that occurs without direct contact is radiation. This process involves the transfer of energy through electromagnetic waves, which can travel through a vacuum or air. An everyday example of radiation is the heat felt from the sun or a warm light bulb, where the heat is transmitted through space without any physical medium.

Conduction and convection typically require some form of contact or movement of particles. Conduction transfers heat through direct contact between materials, while convection involves the movement of fluids—like air or water—where warmer areas rise and cooler areas sink, creating a circulation pattern. Evaporation, though a method of heat transfer, primarily involves the phase change of a liquid to a gas and does not directly involve transferring heat in the same way as radiation does. Thus, radiation is the unique method that operates independently of direct contact or medium.