Convection Currents - Examples

Physics: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 4.4.5

Convection Currents - Examples

Convection currents are used in:

Radiators

Radiators

  • In colder countries, most homes have heaters (called radiators) fixed at around floor level.
  • They heat rooms using convection currents. The warm air rises and pushes cold air down to floor level, where it is heated up by the radiator.
Air Conditioning

Air Conditioning

  • In hot countries, most homes have air conditioning (AC) units fixed at the top of the wall.
  • Hot air rises up to where the AC unit is fixed. It is cooled down and falls, pushing up more hot air to be cooled by the air conditioning unit.
Weather

Weather

  • Convection currents can create wind, clouds and other more extreme weather in the atmosphere.

Test yourself on Convection Currents - Examples

  • What can cause extreme weather events?

  • Suggest how hot air balloons work.

  • Suggest how lighting a fire beneath a chimney can improve ventilation in a room.

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