Radiant energy is the energy contained in the electromagnetic waves (which include visible light, infrared, ultraviolet, x-ray, gamma ray, microwaves, etc.). Our most familiar source of radiant energy is our Sun. Since, the intervening space between Earth and Sun is almost empty, we can hypothesize that radiant energy can move without a medium. Radiant energy can also be absorbed and can increase the temperature of a body, since we feel warm if we sit outside on a sunny day. In fact, radiant energy can not only be absorbed, it can also be reflected and scattered. That is what happens with the radiant energy from the Sun, part of it is reflected back to space, some part is absorbed and rest scattered. A combination of these processes is the reason we have a planet warm enough to support life. We can also make engineering uses of radiant energy. One common application is solar water heaters, which absorb the radiant energy from Sun and heat water (or space, such as buildings).
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