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Convection in Science: Definition, Equation & Examples

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  • 0:01 What Are Convection Currents?
  • 2:19 Equation
  • 3:27 Examples
  • 4:39 Lesson Summary
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Lesson Transcript
Instructor: David Wood

David has taught Honors Physics, AP Physics, IB Physics and general science courses. He has a Masters in Education, and a Bachelors in Physics.

In this lesson you will learn what convection is, go over an equation for convection, and see some examples of convection in everyday life, such as campfires and the Earth's outer core. A short quiz will follow.

What are Convection Currents?

Have you ever held your hand over a pot of boiling water? You probably couldn't keep it there for long. But when you put your hand alongside the same pot, it feels perfectly fine. Why does that happen? Because of convection!

There are three types of heat transfer: conduction, convection and radiation. Convection is a type of heat transfer that can only happen in liquids and gases, because it involves those liquids or gases physically moving.

Convection happens when there is a difference in temperature between two parts of a liquid or gas. The hot part of a fluid rises, and the cooler part sinks. But let's use an example to think about why it happens, lest we assume that the fluid has a mind of its own.

After a day of good, solid learning, it's time for a break. You put the kettle on to make a cup of tea. The kettle heats the water from the bottom, giving the molecules near the bottom more kinetic energy (movement energy). This extra movement allows the molecules to spread apart a little. If they're more spread apart, then that means the water is less dense. Cold water is generally denser than hot water.

Convection currents in boiling water - a saucepan or kettle
Convection in Saucepan

If you put something less dense inside something more dense, what happens? Well, try putting a cork under water. You won't be surprised to see it jump right to the surface. In this same way, the hot water at the bottom of the kettle is less dense than the cold water above it, so it will rise to the surface. Once it gets there, it cools down again because it's further away from the heating element. This causes it to become more dense and sink.

These movements of the water are convection currents, and that's why boiling water moves around so much. The water heats up and becomes less dense, then it rises and cools, becoming more dense again, until it sinks. This process repeats over and over. And it all happens due to a simple temperature difference between the top and bottom of the kettle.

So, just a minute ago, I asked you why it's so hot above the boiling pot of water, when it's perfectly comfortable to put your hand next to it. Convection currents are the reason for this. It's because heat rises. When you put your hand next to the pot, you're receiving energy through other types of heat transfer, like conduction and radiation. But not very much. However, above it you add convection into the mix. The heated air is literally rising up towards you to your hand.

Equation

Convection is probably the most complex of the three types of heat transfer, because it involves chaotic fluids. But there is still an equation we can use to represent it. The following equation describes the heat energy transferred to a surface in an area where convection is occurring:

Convection equation
Convection Equation

The coefficient of convection is just a number that represents the properties of the materials involved, and the temperature difference is the difference in temperature between the surface receiving heat energy and the average temperature of the liquid - it is not the same as the difference in temperature between the top and bottom of the liquid.

So for example: Let's say you have a pot of 97 degree Celsius boiling water with a lid on it, and that lid has a surface area of 0.1m and a temperature of 67 degrees Celsius. (This means there is a temperature difference of 97 - 67 = 30 degrees.) The convection coefficient is 20, and you want to know how many Joules of energy is transferred to the lid every second. To calculate this, you would multiply 20 by 0.1 by 30, giving you 60 Joules per second.

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General Studies Science: Help & Review

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