Science
What is Convection?
Convection is the transfer of heat by the movement of a fluid — liquid or gas. Warm fluid rises because it's less dense, cooler fluid sinks, and this circulation carries heat around. It drives weather, ocean currents, and a boiling pot of water.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains convection.
Key things to understand
- 1It's heat transfer through moving fluids (liquids or gases).
- 2Warm, less-dense fluid rises; cool fluid sinks.
- 3This sets up a circulating 'convection current'.
- 4It drives weather, ocean currents, and boiling water.
Frequently asked questions
- What is convection?
- The transfer of heat by the movement of a fluid, as warm parts rise and cool parts sink.
- What's an everyday example of convection?
- Boiling water, where hot water rises and cooler water sinks, circulating heat through the pot.
- How is convection different from conduction?
- Conduction transfers heat through direct contact; convection transfers it through moving fluid.