Question

A house is heated during winter using a furnace.

Sunlight shines through the window and warms the floor.
Heat travels through the metal pipes carrying hot water.
Warm air rises from vents into the rooms.
Cold air sinks toward the floor as warm air rises.
Which description best represents convection?

Responses
A Description 1Description 1
B Description 2Description 2
C Description 3Description 3
D Description 4

Answer 1

C

"Warm air rises from vents into the rooms" best represents convection — heat transferred by the bulk movement of a fluid (air). (By comparison: sunlight = radiation; heat through metal = conduction; cold air sinking is also convection but 3 is the clearest example.)