What type of heat transfer describes the warmth felt from a hot lamp?

The warmth felt from a hot lamp is best described by radiant heat transfer. Radiant heat transfer occurs through electromagnetic waves and does not require a medium to transfer heat; it can occur in a vacuum. This is the mechanism by which the heat from the lamp travels through the air to warm your skin. When you stand close to a lamp, you feel the heat because it radiates outward from the source, directly warming any objects and surfaces in its path by radiation.

Convection involves the transfer of heat through a fluid (liquid or gas) due to the movement of that fluid, and conduction refers to heat transfer through direct contact between materials. Reflection is the bouncing back of light or heat from a surface but does not describe the direct warming sensation experienced from the lamp. Understanding these principles helps to clarify how different forms of heat transfer work in various situations.