Heat is transferred in 3 ways: Conduction – touching the heat source Convection – being warmed by the heat coming in waves Radiation – being warmed by the energy

You can understand all 3 types of heat transfer by using only a few examples:

Conduction Touch The marshmallow is touching the fire

Convection Heat waves The pig is cooking because of the hot air rising

Radiation Energy They are staying warm because of the heat energy moving from the fire to them.

Conduction When the fire breathing dragon breathes ON the hot dog it is burnt!

Convection When the fire breathing dragon breathes NEAR the hot dog it gets cooked.

Radiation When the fire breathing dragon breathes CLOSE TO the hot dog it is warmed.

Conduction When the flame TOUCHES the pan, the pan heats up. When the water TOUCHES the pan, the water gets hot.

Convection When the water gets hot it rises in WAVES to the top of the pan and heats the rest of the water and vegetables.

Radiation When the flame is low, the heat energy TRANSFERS to the pan, and the pan heats up.

Conduction When the flame TOUCHES the hot dog, the hot dog burns.

Convection When the flame RISE up in WAVES near the hot dog, the hot dog cooks, but doesn’t burn.

Radiation When the hot ENERGY from the flame RISE up the food cooks, but doesn’t burn.

So, how does all of this apply to the Earth?

The convection currents in the Earth’s mantle rise up and push the plates around.

Notice how the plates are being PUSHED apart

Notice how the magma is rising

Now, you can see the convection currents in the mantle