What type of energy is described as being radiated or transmitted in the form of rays or waves?

The correct choice describes energy that is radiated or transmitted in the form of rays or waves, which is known as radiation energy. Radiation energy encompasses various forms of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, ultraviolet light, infrared radiation, and others. This type of energy is distinct because it does not require a medium through which to travel; it can move through a vacuum, such as the energy from the Sun reaching Earth.

In contrast, conduction energy refers to the process of heat transfer through direct contact between materials, while convection energy involves the transfer of heat through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases) due to differences in temperature and density. Kinetic energy, on the other hand, is the energy associated with the motion of objects. Understanding these distinctions highlights why radiation energy is the appropriate answer in the context of energy being transmitted in the form of rays or waves.