Heat Transfer and Convection Currents

These flashcards cover key concepts related to heat transfer, convection currents, density, and their effects on weather patterns.

Heat Transfer

The process of thermal energy moving from a warmer place to a cooler place.

Convection Currents

Currents caused by a difference in temperature due to unequal heating, causing warmer, less dense air to rise and cooler, denser air to sink.

Density

The amount of matter that takes up a certain amount of space, calculated as mass divided by volume.

Less dense matter

Matter that contains molecules that are farther apart and are more excited.

More dense matter

Matter that contains molecules that are closer together.

Convection's effect on weather

Convection currents drive weather patterns such as wind, rain, hurricanes, and fronts.

Convection in oceans

Water on the surface heats up by the sun, moves to polar regions, sinks, and then resurfaces near the equatorial region.

Role of convection currents

Convection currents are crucial for facilitating changes in weather.