1. Convection Current

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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