Which statement concerning radiant heat transfer is FALSE?

The statement regarding radiant heat transfer that is identified as false is that radiant energy cannot travel through a vacuum. This assertion is incorrect because radiant energy, or electromagnetic radiation, can and does travel through a vacuum. This is a fundamental property of all electromagnetic waves, which include visible light, infrared radiation, and other forms of heat radiation.

In the context of heat transfer, radiation is unique among the three modes (conduction, convection, and radiation) in that it does not require a medium for transmission; it can propagate through empty space. This is exemplified by sunlight reaching Earth across the vacuum of space, enabling a transfer of energy that is crucial for life on our planet.

The other statements are accurate representations of the principles governing radiant heat transfer. The Stefan-Boltzmann Law states that the total energy radiated by a black body per unit surface area is proportional to the fourth power of its absolute temperature, which is described in the first statement. The second statement correctly notes that a black body, which is an idealized absorber and emitter of radiation, emits the maximum amount of energy for a given temperature. The third statement accurately reflects the relationship between a body’s absorptivity and reflectivity, where for any opaque body, the sum of