As the distance between two objects increases, what happens to the radiant energy transferred between them?

As the distance between two objects increases, the radiant energy transferred between them decreases due to the principles of radiation. Radiant energy transfer occurs through electromagnetic waves, which spread out as they travel through space. The intensity of this radiation diminishes with distance, following the inverse square law, which states that the intensity of radiation is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source. Therefore, as objects move farther apart, the amount of radiant energy absorbed by one object from another reduces significantly, leading to a decrease in energy transfer.

This principle is foundational in understanding how radiant heat transfer operates in various applications, including HVAC systems, where maintaining effective temperature control requires awareness of such relationships between heat sources and sinks.