Convection Current

What are convection currents? Convection currents transfer heat from one place to another by mass motion of a fluid The heat transfer function of convection currents drives the earth’s ocean currents, atmospheric weather, and geology

How convection works: Convection currents form because a heated fluid expands, becoming less dense Density – how close the particles of a substance are to each other When a fluid is heated, the molecules need more room, so they push each other away The heated fluid rises away from the heat source As it does, cold fluid comes in to take its place where it is then heated This continues until all of the fluid is evenly heated

Convection in air: Convection drives the circulation of air in earth’s atmosphere The sun heats the air near the equator, which becomes less dense and rises upward As it rises, it cools and becomes more dense than the air around it, spreads out then sinks back toward the equator This drives the circulation of air at the earth’s surface that we call wind

Convection Doodle Notes: Hot gasses and liquids are less dense so the rise upwards Heated molecules move around faster so they need more space Cold molecules move less. They become more dense Cold air is dense, cold air sinks

Convection Doodle Notes: Convection is a proce3ss by which heat is transferred by movement if a heated fluid, a liquid or a gas In convection, a hot, less dense fluid rises, and a cold more dense fluid sinks, forming a convection current Convection in Earth’s mantle moves the plates around Convection is the force behind earthquakes and volcanoes The Great Conveyor belt in the oceans influence climate