What type of heat transfer is occurring if significant heat is felt near a cold window?

The correct choice is based on the fundamental principles of heat transfer. In the scenario where significant heat is felt near a cold window, the process at work is radiation.

Radiation is the transfer of heat energy through electromagnetic waves. All objects emit infrared radiation, and a cold window can absorb this radiation and feel cool to the touch. The warmth experienced nearby is due to the heat radiating from other surfaces in your environment, which then warms the air or surfaces near the cold window.

While conduction and convection also play roles in heat transfer, they do not primarily explain why heat feels significant near a window. Conduction involves heat transfer through direct contact between materials, while convection refers to heat transfer through the movement of fluids (like air). Evaporation is related to the phase change of water and does not directly involve heat transfer through surfaces in the context described. Thus, radiation accurately captures the thermal sensation experienced in this situation.