Convection is heat transfer by the movement of currents with in a fluid. It is caused by the difference in temperature and density . ... Heating and cooling of the fluid, changes in the fluid density, and the force of gravity, combine to set convection currents in motion.
What are convection currents responsible for causing?
Convection currents are responsible for the movement of tectonic plates on the crust of the Earth . The mantle has convection currents that cause the plates to move which cause the plates of the crust to move.
What are convection currents and what causes them?
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 is convection currents quizlet?
Convection currents are the transfer of heat through the Earth’s magma . They can be found in the mantle. The hottest part of the Earth is the core. the heat from the core is transferred into the lower mantle. ... As the magma reaches the upper Mantle, it reduces in temperature and begins to become more rigid.
What exactly are convection currents?
A convection current is a process that involves the movement of energy from one place to another . It is also called convection heat transfer. ... These things happen as a result of the Convection Currents. The convection currents tend to move a fluid or gas particles from one place to another.
What are some examples of convection currents?
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.
What does not play a role in convection in the mantle?
The core does not play an active role in mantle convection. The magnitude of the bottom TBL depends on the cooling rate of the mantle, the pressure and temperature dependence of the physical properties and the radioactivity of the deep mantle.
What happens when convection currents occur?
convection currents occur when a heated fluid expands, becoming less dense, and rises . The fluid then cools and contracts, becoming more dense, and sinks.
What is the importance of mantle convection?
This flow, called mantle convection, is an important method of heat transport within the Earth. Mantle convection is the driving mechanism for plate tectonics , which is the process ultimately responsible for producing earthquakes, mountain ranges, and volcanos on Earth.
Why is convection current important?
Convections currents in the earth’s mantle are thought to be the driving force of plate tectonics . Where the hot magma is brought near the surface by the convection currents a divergent boundary is created. The divergent boundaries form new oceans and widen existing oceans.
What is the main cause of global convection currents quizlet?
What causes convection currents? Heating and cooling of the fluid, changes in the fluid’s density, and the force of gravity combine to set convection currents in motion .
How are convection currents used in everyday life?
radiator – A radiator puts warm air out at the top and draws in cooler air at the bottom. steaming cup of hot tea – The steam you see when drinking a cup of hot tea indicates that heat is being transferred into the air. ice melting – Ice melts because heat moves to the ice from the air.
How do convection currents form quizlet?
How/when do convection currents form? The sun radiates energy (heat) onto the Earth . The air close to the ground, warms, becomes less dense, and then rises. As the air rises it cools, and sinks back down.
What are the three main sources of convection?
The primary sources of thermal energy for mantle convection are three: (1) internal heating due to the decay of the radioactive isotopes of uranium, thorium, and potassium ; (2) the long-term secular cooling of the earth; and (3) heat from the core.
What would happen if there were no convection currents?
Convection is the circulation (and mixing) of gases or liquid. ... If for some reason convection stopped, air would not circulate, and weather would stop . Air wouldn’t flow over the waters, suck up moisture and then rain it out on land.
How do convection currents influence the weather?
During convection, cooler water or air sinks, and warmer water or air rises. This movement causes currents. ... These currents move water all around the earth, bringing warm water to cooler areas and vice versa . This redistributes thermal energy and causes changes in the weather.
