Question

Convection currents occur in fluids because of temperature and______ differences. Convection currents transfer ______ energy throughout a fluid. They continue until all of the fluid is at the same temperature

Answer 1

The answer to the first blank is Density : And the second blank is thermal

Answer 2

Solution: (i) Density (ii) thermal

Liquids at lower temperatures have greater density when compared to liquids at higher temperatures.This is because, at higher temperatures, molecules have greater kinetic energy and hence they are spaced farther apart, when compared to molecules at lower temperatures. Thus, the colder layers of liquids are heavier than the warmer layers, which causes then to move down due to gravity. For the same reason, the hotter layers move upwards through the liquid.

When a liquid is heated, the molecules closest to the heat source have greater energy, their density becomes less and they move upwards. The colder layers sink downwards. The layers of the liquid which were cold initially, get heated and they travel upwards. As the process repeats, convection currents are set up in the liquid.

These currents transfer the thermal energy derived from the source throughout the liquid. The process stops when the entire liquid is at the same temperature.

Thus, convection currents occur in liquids due to temperature and density differences. Convection currents transfer thermal energy throughout a fluid.