Heat transfer occurs through three primary methods: conduction, convection, and radiation. Conduction is the process where heat moves through a solid material, typically from a hotter area to a cooler one, as particles collide and transfer energy. An example of conduction is a metal spoon getting hot when placed in a pot of boiling water. Convection involves the movement of heat through fluids, such as liquids and gases. In this method, warmer, less dense fluid rises while cooler, denser fluid sinks, creating a circulation pattern. Radiation, on the other hand, is the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves, allowing heat to travel through a vacuum, like the warmth from the Sun reaching the Earth.