Understand that convection involves the actual physical movement of particles in liquids and gases.
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Visual of the paper cup experiment and balloon in the sun.
Hot air expands, becomes lighter, and rises, as demonstrated by the lifted paper cup and the sun-heated balloon.
Hook on the movement of hot air.
Have you ever sat around a campfire and noticed the smoke always goes up? Pema observed this while looking at the rising smoke from burning firewood. Let's explore why fluids, like gases and liquids, behave differently than solid objects when heated.
Explanation of convection through actual particle movement.
When a fluid (a liquid or a gas) is heated, the portion closest to the heat source warms up first. As it absorbs heat, it expands, becomes lighter, and naturally begins to rise.
Visual of potassium permanganate in heating water.
Heating water creates a continuous cycle of rising hot fluid and sinking cold fluid.
Order the steps of convection in boiling water.
Drag and drop the steps to show how a convection cycle forms when water is heated.