Transcript Convection
Convection
Material Flow
Objects at different temperatures may not be in direct
thermal contact.
An intermediate mechanism is needed to transfer
heat.
If the heat transfer is through the motion of a fluid,
then it is called convection.
Fluid Motion
Objects in a fluid have a
force of buoyancy.
Materials expand when they
are heated.
Fb = mg
• Increased volume
• Lower density
Warm fluids generally rise.
Fnet coolVg warmVg
Circulation
If one area in a fluid is
heated that are will become
less dense.
As it moves away it transfers
energy and cools
Cool fluid replaces the warm
fluid that left.
Home Heating
Convection causes heat to
circulate in a house.
• Water circulates in pipes
• Air circulates around
radiators.
Forced circulation uses a fan
to push heated air.
• Faster exchange of heat
Thunderstorm
Warm air rises in the storm over
a mass of colder air.
The moisture condenses as the
air cools.
The cool air in the storm
descends with precipitation.
Thunderstorms move heat
energy with convection.
Temperature difference is
between masses of warm
and cold air.
Global Circulation
Warm air at the equator also
rises.
As it moves poleward it
cools.
The cool air descends.
This forms a Hadley cell.
Global Circulation
The rotating earth breaks up
the Hadley cell.
Circulation moves heat in a
complex pattern that controls
the weather.
More Convection
Convection moves heat in many systems.
• Inside the oceans – ocean currents
• Inside the earth – continental drift
• Inside the sun - sunspots
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