Question

NASA developed a reflective foil barrier to help shield spacecraft from heat transfer in space. These reflective barriers are now used in homes to prevent heat transfer by the same method. What method of heat transfer is being prevented by the reflective barrier?

Answer 1

Answer: Radiation

Explanation: Radiation is the energy that comes from a source in form of electromagnetic waves, subatomic particles, light, or heat which travels through space.

Examples of radiation include the light, heat, and particles emitted from the Sun.

Using a foil barrier to prevent heat transfer is possible because foil has a silver color, and silver reflects light and heat instead of absorbing them. This is the opposite of black surfaces that absorb heat.

So in homes where these foil reflective barriers are used, the transfer of heat through Radiation is highly reduced.