Final answer:
The transfer of energy through empty space is known as radiation. This process, which involves heat transfer by electromagnetic waves, occurs without the need for a medium and is how we receive heat from the sun.
Step-by-step explanation:
The transfer of energy through empty space is called radiation. This type of heat transfer occurs in the form of electromagnetic waves that require no medium to propagate, allowing energy to travel through the vacuum of space. We experience radiation on a daily basis from the sun, as it emits electromagnetic radiation which travels across space and warms the Earth. Similarly, when you feel the heat from a fire or when you approach a hot oven, you are experiencing heat transfer by radiation. The other forms of heat transfer, conduction and convection, involve direct contact and movement of mass respectively, which are not capable of transferring energy through empty space.