WEEK

TEN

106
 Science
The Cyclical
How Is Heat Transferred Motion
in Liquids and Gases? Convection is the transfer of
heat that happens in fluids and
gases because molecules in them
01  Work in groups of two. Discuss the following are free to circulate. The transfer
questions. of heat energy by convection occurs
when there is a considerable difference in
› Why does boiling water in a pot move in a circular temperature between two fluids.
motion when it is being heated?
› Why do clouds float in the atmosphere? With the difference in temperature, the hot fluid rises
› How does a hot air balloon function? while the cold fluid sinks, creating movements or
currents in the fluid. Convection currents rely on the
constant cyclical motion, or movement, of air, water,
02  Read “The Cyclical Motion.” Look at the following and other substances that distribute heat.
sentences. Organize them to explain how convection
currents happen. The formation of convection currents occurs when a
heated fluid expands, becoming less dense. The less
1. The fluid rises and pulls the cooler fluid down. dense heated fluid then rises away from the heat
source. As the fluid rises, it pulls the cooler fluid down.
2. The heated fluid becomes less dense. The cooler fluid is in turn, heated, rises, and then pulls
more cool fluid down. The cyclical motion forms a
3. The cooler liquid is heated and pulls colder fluid down.
circular current which will only stop when there is an
4. The less dense, heated liquid rises away from the heat source. even distribution of heat in the fluid.

The convection currents are present in the oceans, in

the air, and the earth. They follow the same process
as detailed above. For example, molten rock under
the earth circulates through convection currents.
The currents can be used to explain earthquakes,
volcanoes, and continental drift. The clouds in the air
are kept aloft by the atmospheric convection currents.

03  Read the text again. In the space below, answer the
following questions.
04  Replace the underlined words with others from
the text.
1. How does the difference in temperature cause
convection currents? 1. The clouds are kept in the air by atmospheric currents.

          

2. Convection currents depend on the constant repeated

motion of air and water.           

2. Why does convection current happen in gases 3. What causes the transfer of energy by convection is the
and fluids?
significant difference in temperatures.           

4. The cyclical movement forms the circular convection

current when heating fluids.           

5. The liquid rock under the earth circulates through

convection currents.           

108 Week 10
 05  Look at the sentences below. Read each sentence
aloud. Underline the part of the sentence you think
is emphasized.

1. What keeps the clouds in the air are the ENERGY

atmospheric currents.
The differences in temperatures in the atmosphere
2. What the convection currents depend on are the repeated are because of how solar energy is absorbed into
motions of air and water. the atmosphere. The transfer of heat energy in the
oceans, on the earth and in the air is made possible
3. What causes the transfer of energy by convection is the
by conduction, radiation, and convection. This way, the
significant difference in temperatures.
convention currents become useful in linking all the three
4. What forms the circular convection current is the elements that are crucial to our life.
cyclical movement.
What conditions of the atmosphere do you think will
damage life on Earth in the future?
06  Working with examples from Exercise 5, write
down a question for each of the sentences above. Then,
add an extra question of your own.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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07  Rewrite the sentences below using the sentences from Exercise 5 as 08  Work in groups of
Au

y
examples. Then, write one of your own and ask a classmate to answer it. five and follow the
instructions below.

1. The difference in temperature between two fluids makes the transfer of 1. Create a poster to present
heat by convection. information about convection
currents. Use the materials you
consider necessary to do so.

2. The cooler fluid is pulled down as the heated one rises. 2. Describe on it how convection
currents are formed.

3. Use this description to explain

3. Currents explain some natural phenomena. how convection currents are
responsible for volcanoes.

4.

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