Radiators are primarily used for what type of heat transfer?

Radiators primarily function through radiation, which is the process of heat transfer through electromagnetic waves. When a radiator heats up, it emits infrared radiation that travels through the air and warms objects and surfaces directly in the surrounding space. This method is particularly effective in heating rooms because it warms people and objects rather than just the air, providing a more comfortable environment.

While convection and conduction are also methods of heat transfer, they are not the primary mechanisms at play with radiators. Convection would involve the movement of heated air rising and causing cooler air to move in, creating circulation, which may occur to some extent in a room with a radiator but is not the primary function. Conduction refers to heat transfer through direct contact, such as heat moving through the metal of the radiator itself, but this is not how the radiator primarily delivers warmth to a room. Evaporation does not apply here as it relates to the process of liquid turning into vapor, which is not how heating systems typically operate.