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E3 - Thermal Processes

Convection is the transfer of thermal energy through circulating currents in a fluid. For example, when heating water in a pot, heat from the stove conducts to the bottom water which becomes less dense and rises, cooling and sinking to repeat the cycle. This convection current circulates the fluid. Convection currents also occur in the mantle due to differing densities from core heating, driving plate tectonics. Large bodies of water like seas and lakes create convection breezes as they differentially heat and cool the air.

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69 views3 pages

E3 - Thermal Processes

Convection is the transfer of thermal energy through circulating currents in a fluid. For example, when heating water in a pot, heat from the stove conducts to the bottom water which becomes less dense and rises, cooling and sinking to repeat the cycle. This convection current circulates the fluid. Convection currents also occur in the mantle due to differing densities from core heating, driving plate tectonics. Large bodies of water like seas and lakes create convection breezes as they differentially heat and cool the air.

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alexandria iskandar
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Exercise 3 : Thermal Processes

Name : ……………………………… Date : ………….

Convection
- the second way that heat is transferred is through convection

- convection is the transfer of thermal energy through circulating currents in


a fluid
o e.g. heating water in a pot
 the bottom of the pot is in direct contact with the element on
the stove
 heat energy from the element is transferred to the pot and
then to the water at the bottom of the pot through
conduction
 the water that heats at the bottom of the pot starts to move
faster and the particles move farther apart
 the hotter water becomes less dense and starts to rise
 as the less dense water rises, it starts to cool
 as it cools it becomes more dense and starts to sink again
 this creates a convection current that cycles through the fluid

- convection currents can occur in liquids and gases (recall that both of these
are fluids)

- convection is important in geological processes


o the mantle is warmed by the core of the earth
o the warmer mantle is less dense and rises towards the crust
o near the curst, it cools and start to sink down again
 this creates a convection current
o the movement of the mantle underneath the plates of the crust results
in plate tectonics
- because of its high heat capacity, water acts as a heat sink

o a heat sink is something that absorbs heat but does not heat up
much as a result
o this also creates convection currents called sea (or lake) breezes
and land breezes

 sea breeze
 during the day, the sun shines on the land and the water
o the land (lower heat capacity) heats up quickly and
the water (higher heat capacity) heats up slowly
o the air over the warm land rises, creating a low
pressure zone which the cool air from the water fill
in (creating the breeze)

 land breeze
 during the night, the sun stops shining
o the land (lower heat capacity) cools down quickly and
the water (higher heat capacity) cools down slowly
o the low pressure zone is now above the warmer water,
and this creates a breeze coming from the land

o places that are located close to large bodies of water have higher
temperatures in the winter and lower temperatures in the summer
 e.g. compare the climate of Vancouver to the climate of Toronto
Assignment:
1. In your own words, explain how thermal energy is transferred in a pot of
heating water.
2. How is the particle theory involved in the idea of convection currents?
3. Where might you find convection currents in your daily life?
4. How are convection currents involved in natural processes?

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