Explaining convection
I can explain convection currents and describe how they can transfer energy.
Explaining convection
I can explain convection currents and describe how they can transfer energy.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Particles in a gas move very quickly in random directions and have empty space between them.
- Heating a fluid increases the speed of particles and they push each other further apart.
- As a fluid is heated, it becomes less dense.
- Hotter fluid rises through cooler fluid because it is less dense.
Common misconception
Pupils often have the misconception that heat is a substance that can flow.
Focus learning on how heating causes particles to move more quickly, and the effects that this can have on the density of a fluid.
Keywords
Density - The mass per unit volume of a substance; a less dense substance will float on top of a more dense one.
Fluid - The term used for a gas or liquid because these can flow as their particles can move around.
Random motion - Describes the movement of particles in a fluid that travels at a range of speeds in all directions.
Convection current - The movement of fluids caused by differences in density within the fluid, which allows energy to be transferred as the hotter fluid rises to cooler areas.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Video
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