Radiation

is a mode of heat transfer that results from changes in the electronic configurations of atoms or molecules. The energy is emitted as electromagnetic wave or photons and does not need a medium to facilitate the energy transfer. All bodies above absolute zero emit energy in this manner. This type of radiation is called thermal radiation

Radiation: Stefan-Boltzmann aw
Radiation heat transfer is very different from conduction or convection heat transfer because it !"#S $"T re%uire direct molecular interaction or molecular collisions. &nstead' photons emitted from one molecule are absorbed by another molecule. The photons carry energy and this energy is transferred to the molecule that absorbs the photons. (hen a photon is emitted' it reduces the sensible internal energy of the molecule. Then' when the photon is absorbed' it increases the sensible internal energy of the molecule that absorbed it. )hotons can travel through vacuum. As a result' radiation heat transfer can occur over very long distances' especially if there are few molecules in the way. *or e+ample' the #arth absorbs a great deal of radiation from the sun' which is ,- million miles away' because space is nearly a perfect vacuum. The Stephan-Boltzmann aw is the e%uation that %uantifies the rate at which radiation heat transfer occurs. A is the surface area perpendicular to heat transfer. &n the case of the #arth receiving radiation from the sun' the area would be the .pro/ected0 area' 1 R 2. Sigma is the Stephan-Boltzmann 2onstant and its value is 3.45 + 678 (9m 2-:4.

Ts is the absolute temperature of the emitter. "nly a perfect emitter of radiation' called a blac;body' could actually transfer energy at this ma+imum rate. Real materials emit less energy through radiation.