Heat | What is convection?
What is convection?
The second way heat travels is by convection. ConvectionThe circulatory motion that occurs in a gas or liquid at a nonuniform temperature owing to the variation of its density and the action of gravity. is the rising of warm air from an object, such as the surface of Earth. Convection allows heat to travel through both gases and liquids, moving from warmer areas to cooler areas.
Heating the molecules in a gas or liquid makes them move farther apart, so the substance becomes lighter or less dense. The lighter air or liquid rises; it also cools off as heat energy escapes into the surrounding cooler air or liquid. As the molecules cool, they...
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