What term describes the process of heat transfer through radiation?

The term that describes the process of heat transfer through radiation is not convection, but rather radiation itself. Radiation is the transfer of heat in the form of electromagnetic waves, typically infrared radiation, which can occur in a vacuum or through a medium without the need for direct contact between objects.

In the context of the other options, conduction refers to heat transfer through direct contact between materials, where heat moves from one molecule to a neighboring molecule. Convection involves the transfer of heat by the movement of fluids (liquids or gases) due to differences in temperature and density, where warmer fluid rises and cooler fluid sinks, creating a circulation pattern. Absorption is the process by which matter takes in energy, such as when surfaces absorb radiation, but it does not specifically refer to the transfer process itself.

Understanding these processes is crucial in air conditioning and refrigeration as they provide insights into how heat is managed in various systems.