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GATE 2026 Exam Date Announced – Complete Schedule, Syllabus, and Key Details » GATE Study Materials » Mechanical Engineering » Radiative Heat Transfer
Prepare for GATE & ESE

Radiative Heat Transfer

The following article includes information on radiation heat transfer. It explains what a radiation heat transfer is. It also provides the radiation heat transfer formula.

Table of Content
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The movement or flow of heat happens between a cold object and a hot object. It can also happen between bodies that are at varying degrees of temperature. The movement in heat transfer generally occurs from a hot body to a colder body. Radiation heat transfer is a type of heat flow. There are two other methods in which heat flow happens. There is the conduction method and then there is the convection method. Radiation heat transfer happens electromagnetically. In this, ions are heated up and the flow occurs through heat waves. Radiation heat transfer is the subject of study in the article. Relevant information on what is a radiation heat transfer and the radiation heat transfer formula.

Radiation Heat transfer

Heat transfer is the most common phenomenon witnessed all around us. Heat transfer is the subject of physics and its associated subfields. Heat transfer involves heat moving between objects or things. In radiation heat transfer, the heat is emitted out of one body. The expelled heat is then absorbed by another body whose temperature is relatively lower than the body emitting it. Radiation heat transfer happens electromagnetically. In this, ions are heated up and the flow occurs through heat waves. Sometimes, radiation heat transfer can involve reflecting or transmitting the heat back onto some other nearby objects. The following are the characteristics of radiation heat transfer:

  • Opaque bodies reflect a part of the radiation
  • Radiation heat transfer involves continuous dispersion
  • Radiation heat transfer is a thermal phenomenon
  • frequency spectrum depends on spectral absorptivity

Thus, radiation heat transfer is an important part of thermal radiation. Radiation heat transfer necessitates information on other associated concepts like waves, frequencies, and surface temperature. The energy that is radiated by a hot body happens through photons. These are subatomic particles. It is a fact that everybody radiates heat. The direction of emission is random. There is no set direction.

Radiation Heat Transfer Examples

Radiation heat transfer examples are necessary for clarifying students’ perceptions. Radiation heat transfer is fairly easy to understand. Supplementing that understanding with examples only bolsters the confidence of the students. Radiation heat transfer examples have been provided in the section for the benefit of the student. Radiation heat transfer happens electromagnetically. In this, ions are heated up and the flow occurs through heat waves. Sometimes, radiation heat transfer can involve reflecting or transmitting the heat back onto some other nearby objects.

  • The heating up of the earth’s surface happens due to radiation. The earth’s surface absorbs the radiated heat from the sun. But some of it is reflected by the earth and it is either absorbed by the atmosphere or gets reflected into space.
  • During winter, the heating of rooms by hearths or fire stoves
  • Warming up of cold hands or feet in front of an open-source fire like a bonfire is an example
  • Cooking in microwaves

What is a Radiation Heat Transfer?

What is a radiation heat transfer is a question that frequently comes up in competitive exams. To answer what is a radiation heat transfer, the students need to be well aware of the radiation heat transfer concept. Therefore, the article has provided the answer to the question of what is radiation heat transfer. In radiation heat transfer, the heat is emitted out of one body. The expelled heat is then absorbed by another body whose temperature is relatively lower than the body emitting it. Radiation heat transfer happens electromagnetically. In this, ions are heated up and the flow occurs through heat waves. Sometimes, radiation heat transfer can involve reflecting or transmitting the heat back onto some other nearby objects. Radiation heat transfer involves continuous dispersion.

Radiation Heat Transfer Formula

Stefan Boltzmann’s interpretation of the radiation heat transfer formula is applied to many areas of physics. According to this interpretation, the radiation heat transfer formula is Qt=σ e AT 4  Q t = σ e A T 4. Here, σ represents the constant, A denotes the surface of the area and T is temperature.

  • In this version, A is the object surface area while
  • T is the recorded absolute temperature.

Conclusion

Radiative heat transfer is an important chapter in physics. Students must pay close attention to heat transfer and its associated subtopics. Many questions in competitive exams like the GATE exams come from here. Thus, radiation heat transfer is an important part of thermal radiation. Radiation heat transfer is a thermal phenomenon.

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the GATE Examination Preparation.

What is radiation heat transfer?

Ans: Radiation heat transfer is a type of heat flow. There are two othe...Read full

What are the different methods of heat transfer?

Ans: Different methods of heat transfer are: ...Read full

What is the radiation heat transfer formula?

Ans: Stefan Boltzmann’s interpretation of the radiation heat transfer formula is applied to many areas of p...Read full

What are the radiation heat transfer examples?

Ans: Radiation heat transfer happens electromagnetically. In this, ions...Read full

What are the characteristics of radiation heat transfer?

Ans: The following are the characteristics of radiation heat transfer:...Read full

Ans: Radiation heat transfer is a type of heat flow. There are two other methods in which heat flow happens. There is the conduction method and then there is the convection method. Radiation heat transfer happens electromagnetically. Heat transfer is the subject of physics and its associated subfields.  In this, ions are heated up and the flow occurs through heat waves.

Ans: Different methods of heat transfer are:

  • Convection
  • Radiation
  • Conduction

Ans: Stefan Boltzmann’s interpretation of the radiation heat transfer formula is applied to many areas of physics. According to this interpretation, the radiation heat transfer formula is  Qt=σeAT4    Q t = σ e A T 4.    

 

Ans: Radiation heat transfer happens electromagnetically. In this, ions are heated up and the flow occurs through heat waves. Sometimes, radiation heat transfer can also involve reflecting or transmitting the heat back onto some other nearby objects. 

  • The heating up of the earth’s surface happens due to radiation. The earth’s surface absorbs the radiated heat from the sun. But some of it is reflected by the earth and it is either absorbed by the atmosphere or gets reflected into space. 
  • During winter, the heating of rooms by hearths or fire stoves
  • Warming up of cold hands or feet in front of an open-source fire like a bonfire is an example
  • Cooking in microwaves

Ans: The following are the characteristics of radiation heat transfer:

  • Opaque bodies reflect a part of the radiation
  • Radiation heat transfer involves continuous dispersion
  • Radiation heat transfer is a thermal phenomenon
  • frequency spectrum depends on spectral absorptivity

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