Answer :
Final answer:
Thermal energy from the Sun reaches the Earth solely through radiation, as this method does not require a medium, allowing electromagnetic waves to travel through the vacuum of space.
Explanation:
Thermal energy is transferred from the Sun to the Earth by radiation only. Since the space between the Earth and the Sun is a vacuum, there is no medium for heat transfer by convection or conduction. Radiation is the emission of electromagnetic waves that can travel through a vacuum, allowing the Sun's energy to reach Earth despite the empty space between them. Electromagnetic radiation includes a range of wavelengths like radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays.
