Convection Currents and the Mantle

The Heat of the Earth Earth’s outer core is nearly as hot as the surface of the sun

Heat Transfer The movement of energy from a warmer object to a cooler object

Three Types of Heat Transfer Radiation Conduction Convection

Radiation The transfer of energy through empty space

Radiation Heat transfer by radiation takes place with no direct contact between a heat source and an object

Conduction Heat transfer by direct contact of particles of matter

convection Heat transfer by the movement of a heated fluid

How Convection Works During convection heated particles of fluid begin to flow, transferring heat energy from one part of the fluid to another

What Causes Convection Heat transfer by convection is caused by differences of temperature and density within the fluid

Density A measure of how much mass there is in a volume of a substance

Convection Current the flow that transfers heart within a fluid

The heating and cooling of the fluid, changes in the fluid’s density, and the force of gravity combine to set convection currents in motion

Convection in Earth’s Mantle The core creates convection currents that flow through the asthenosphere

Convection in the Mantle At the top of the asthensophere the hot material spreads out and pushes the cooler material out of the way

Convection in the Mantle The cooler material sinks back into the asthenosphere