What are convection currents GCSE geography?

Heat rising and falling inside the mantle creates convection currents generated by radioactive decay in the core. The convection currents move the plates. Where convection currents diverge near the Earth’s crust, plates move apart. Where convection currents converge, plates move towards each other.

What are convection currents geography?

Convection currents, that occur within the molten rock in the mantle, act like a conveyor belt for the plates. Tectonic plates move in different directions. The direction of movement and type of plate margin is determined by which way the convection currents are flowing.

What are convection currents in plate tectonics?

Geologists have hypothesized that the movement of tectonic plates is related to convection currents in the earth’s mantle. Convection currents describe the rising, spread, and sinking of gas, liquid, or molten material caused by the application of heat.

What is a convection current BBC Bitesize?

Convection occurs when particles with a lot of heat energy in a liquid or gas move and take the place of particles with less heat energy. Air current close to a radiator. Heat energy is transferred from hot places to cooler places by convection. A beaker is heated and the coloured fluid inside shows convection currents.

What are convection currents ks2?

Convection currents occur when there are significant differences in temperature between two parts of a fluid. When this happens, hot fluids rise and cold fluids sink. This causes movements or currents in the fluid. Atmospheric circulation, for example, is made by convection currents.

What are convection currents easy definition?

Definition of convection current

1a : a stream of fluid propelled by thermal convection. b : thermally produced vertical air flow. 2 : a surface charge of electricity on a moving body — compare convection sense 3c.

What are convection currents simple?

Convection currents are the result of differential heating. Lighter (less dense), warm material rises while heavier (more dense) cool material sinks. It is this movement that creates circulation patterns known as convection currents in the atmosphere, in water, and in the mantle of Earth.

What are convection currents 7?

A convection current is a process that involves the movement of energy from one place to another. It is also called convection heat transfer.

What is a convection current example?

A simple example of convection currents is warm air rising toward the ceiling or attic of a house. Warm air is less dense than cool air, so it rises. Wind is an example of a convection current. Sunlight or reflected light radiates heat, setting up a temperature difference that causes the air to move.

How does a convection current work for kids?

The heated molecules take up more space and rise to the top, while the cooler molecules sink to the bottom. These cooler molecules then become heated. The process is repeated. This cycle is called the convection current.

What are 5 facts about convection?

Facts about convection:

• The heat source and liquid are needed to form convection current therefore, heat transfer can be conducted.
• Convection occurs in the atmosphere. …
• Magma is considered as the fluid, while the core of the earth is called as the heat source.
• Convection is important since it can affect the weather.

Where do convection currents occur?

Convection currents occur within:

the geosphere – plate tectonics. the atmosphere – wind. the hydrosphere – ocean currents.

What is a convection current and what causes it?

Convection currents occur when a reservoir of fluid is heated at the bottom, and allowed to cool at the top.. Heat causes the fluid to expand, decreasing its density. If there is cooler material on top, it will be more compact and therefore, will sink to the bottom. The heated material will rise to the top.

What is convection definition and example?

Definition of convection

1 : the action or process of conveying. 2a : movement in a gas or liquid in which the warmer parts move up and the cooler parts move down convection currents. b : the transfer of heat by convection foods cooked by convection — compare conduction, radiation.

What are convection currents and what causes them quizlet?

A convection current is the flow that transfers heat with in a fluid. Heating and cooling of the fluid, changes in the fluid density, and the force of gravity, combine to set convection currents in motion. Heat from the core and the mantle itself cause convection currents in the mantle.

How is a convection current formed?

Convection currents form because a heated fluid expands, becoming less dense. The less-dense heated fluid rises away from the heat source. As it rises, it pulls cooler fluid down to replace it. … For instance, a hot radiator heats the air immediately around it.

What are conduction currents?

Conduction current is the electric current which exists in a conductor when the electrons flow in the conductor at a uniform rate. So, it is the current in a conductor when the electric field remains constant with respect to time.

What are the 10 examples of convection?

Listed below are 10 common examples of convection in everyday life.

• Boiling Water.
• Land and Sea Breeze.
• Air Conditioner.
• Body blood circulation.
• Melting of chilled drinks.
• Convection Oven.
• Hot-air Baloon.
• Refrigerator.

Which is the best example of convection current?

Convection currents are present in the air– A good example of convection current is the warm air that rises towards the ceiling in your house. The process happens as the warm air is said to be less dense than that of the colder air. Another good example of convection current is wind.

What are 5 examples of convection that occur in everyday life?

13 Examples Of Convection In Everyday Life

• Breeze. The formation of sea and land breeze form the classic examples of convection. …
• Boiling Water. Convection comes into play while boiling water. …
• Blood Circulation in Warm-Blooded Mammals. …
• Air-Conditioner. …
• Radiator. …
• Refrigerator. …
• Hot Air Popper. …
• Hot Air Balloon.

Which is an example of convection currents quizlet?

An example of convection is heating a pot of soup on a stove. As soup at the bottom of the pot gets hot, it expands and becomes less dense. The warm, less dense soup moves upward, floating over cooler, denser soup. At the surface, the warm soup spreads out and cools, becoming denser.

What are some real examples of conduction convection and radiation?

Conduction: Heat transfers into your hands as you hold a hot cup of coffee. Convection: Heat transfers as the barista “steams” cold milk to make hot cocoa. Radiation: Reheating a cold cup of coffee in a microwave oven.

What are three types of convection?

Types of Convection

• Natural convection.
• Forced convection.

What is a convection in science?

convection, process by which heat is transferred by movement of a heated fluid such as air or water.