Cycles

Convection

Convection is one of the three (3) types of heat transfer (others are conduction and radiation) Convection occurs when warm air or liquid with rapidly moving atoms rise up and are replaced by cold air or liquid with slower moving particles.

Alternative Definitions

• The transfer of heat through fluids from a warmer area to a cooler area. (Science Dictionary)

Things to note about Convection:

• Particles in fluids move from one place to another when heated.
• Heated air/liquid rises because it is less dense than cold air/liquid.
• Heated air/liquid rises cools down and then drops back down again
• It is a continuous cycle.
• It only occurs in fluids ie. Liquids and gases. Atoms/molecules are free to move in these substances
• Can only occur in places with varying temperatures.