Which statement explains why the Sun can heat the Earth without a medium?

Which statement explains why the Sun can heat the Earth without a medium?

• A. Electromagnetic waves move energy only in solids.
• B. Electromagnetic waves can travel through empty space.
• C. Heat requires a liquid medium.
• D. Energy transfer only occurs at night.

Answer: (B)

Energy can move as electromagnetic radiation, which does not need a material medium. The Sun emits visible light and other EM waves that travel through the vacuum of space and reach Earth, warming its surface and atmosphere. This shows why sunlight can heat Earth even when there’s no air or water in between. Electromagnetic waves don’t require a medium to propagate, unlike sound or some other processes that need a material to carry the energy. Statements suggesting radiation only works in solids, or that heat needs a liquid, are not correct, and energy from the Sun isn’t limited to nighttime—it's transferred whenever sunlight reaches Earth.

Energy can move as electromagnetic radiation, which does not need a material medium. The Sun emits visible light and other EM waves that travel through the vacuum of space and reach Earth, warming its surface and atmosphere. This shows why sunlight can heat Earth even when there’s no air or water in between. Electromagnetic waves don’t require a medium to propagate, unlike sound or some other processes that need a material to carry the energy. Statements suggesting radiation only works in solids, or that heat needs a liquid, are not correct, and energy from the Sun isn’t limited to nighttime—it's transferred whenever sunlight reaches Earth.