By Subject By Standard Proficiency Assessments

Heat Transfer and Convection Currents

Earth Science - Middle School

Heat Transfer and Convection Currents

Presentation

Assign Google Classroom Weblink

Table Of Contents: Heat Transfer and Convection Currents

1. Types of Heat Transfer

There are three types of heat transfer. Radiation is heat transferred through space. Conduction is heat transferred within a material, and convection is heat transferred by the movement of liquids.

2. What Causes Convection?

Convection is caused when a fluid has differences in temperature and density. When a liquid becomes cooler, its particles move more slowly and the liquid becomes denser.

3. Hot Mantle Rises

In the Earth, the mantle is the hottest near the core and cooler near the crust. Because it has a lower density, the hot mantle material near the core starts to rise toward the crust.

4. Cool Mantle Sinks

As the mantle rises, it also cools. When it cools, it becomes denser and then descends back towards the center of the Earth.

5. Mantle Convection Currents

This circular motion creates convection currents. Convection currents in the mantle cause the crust to move over Earth’s surface.

6. Core Convection Currents

There are also convection currents in the outer core. These currents contribute to the Earth's magnetic field.

Heat Transfer and Convection Currents

Earth Science - Middle School