When a fluid is heated it expands. The fluid becomes less dense and rises. The warm fluid is replaced by cooler, denser fluid. The resulting convection current transfers energy throughout the fluid
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What is a convection current?
The circular motion of matter caused by heating in fluids.
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Why doesn't convection occur in solids?
Because the particles are held in fixed positions therfore are unable to flow
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Can convection currents only be on a very small scale?
No, they can be on a very small scale (such as heating water in a beaker) but can also be on a very large scale (such as heating the air above land and sea)
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Why does a fluid become less dense when heated?
because it expands, so there is the same mass of material in a larger volume.
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
How does convection happen?
Back
When a fluid is heated it expands. The fluid becomes less dense and rises. The warm fluid is replaced by cooler, denser fluid. The resulting convection current transfers energy throughout the fluid
Card 3
Front
What is a convection current?
Back
Card 4
Front
Why doesn't convection occur in solids?
Back
Card 5
Front
Can convection currents only be on a very small scale?
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