Convection Currents

Front

What are convection currents?

Back

Convection currents are the movement of fluid (liquid or gas) caused by the uneven distribution of heat, leading to the rise of warmer, less dense fluid and the sinking of cooler, denser fluid.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What happens to particles in a fluid when it is heated?

Back

Particles move faster and spread apart, causing the fluid to become less dense.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Front

What is an example of convection in everyday life?

Back

The movement of gas in a hot air balloon.

Front

How does the sun contribute to convection currents on Earth?

Back

The sun heats the Earth's surface, causing air and water to warm up, creating convection currents.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What is density?

Back

Density is the mass of a substance divided by its volume, often described as how heavy or light a substance is for a given space.

Front

What happens to warm air in a room?

Back

Warm air rises because it is less dense than cooler air.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Front

What is the role of gravity in convection currents?

Back

Gravity pulls denser, cooler fluid down, while warmer, less dense fluid rises, creating a cycle.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Front

What is an example of convection in water?

Back

When a pot of water is heated, the water at the bottom warms up, rises, and cooler water moves down to take its place.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Front

What is the relationship between temperature and particle movement?

Back

As temperature increases, particle movement increases, leading to changes in density and buoyancy.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Front

What is the effect of cooling on convection currents?

Back

Cooling causes the fluid to become denser and sink, disrupting the convection cycle.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4