Convection Currents Vocabulary

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Convection

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The transfer of heat by the movement of fluids because of differences in the temperature and density

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Current

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A continuous flow of a liquid or gas in a particular direction

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Heat Transfer

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The movement of thermal energy from a warmer object to a cooler one

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Density

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The amount of mass in a given volume of a substance. Warmer fluids are less dense and rise, while cooler fluids are denser and sink

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Thermal Energy

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The total energy of the moving particles in a substance (aka Heat Energy)

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Fluid

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A substance that can flow (like a liquid or gas)

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Temperature

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A measure of the average kinetic energy (motion) of particles in a substance (This movement determines how hot or cold the substance is)

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Rise

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The upward movement of a fluid -- caused by being heated and becoming less dense

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Sink

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The downward movement of a fluid -- caused by cooling and increasing density

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Equilibrium

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A state in which heat energy is evenly distributed (balanced) -- stops convection currents