The three main ways that heat can be transferred are through conduction, convection, and radiation. Conduction involves direct contact between materials, transferring kinetic energy through molecular collisions. Convection occurs in fluids, where warmer, less dense areas rise while cooler, denser regions sink, creating circulation patterns. Radiation involves the transfer of energy through electromagnetic waves, allowing heat to travel through a vacuum, such as sunlight reaching Earth. Each method plays a key role in thermal dynamics in various environments.