Which term refers to energy that is transmitted in the form of rays or waves or particles?

The term that describes energy transmitted in the form of rays, waves, or particles is radiation. This mode of energy transfer occurs without the need for a medium, meaning it can even occur in a vacuum, such as how sunlight travels through space to reach Earth.

Radiation is fundamentally different from conduction and convection—conduction involves the transfer of heat through direct contact between materials, while convection refers to the transfer of heat through the movement of fluids (liquids and gases) driven by density differences within the fluid caused by temperature variations.

Absorption, on the other hand, refers to the process where matter takes in energy, rather than transmitting it. Thus, radiation specifically focuses on the emission and propagation of energy, making it the most accurate term in this context.