Listen

Question

In the summer the air in the basement is cooler than the air at the top of the stairs because cool air sinks. Which of the following describes the method of heat transfer that causes this difference in temperature?

Question 6 options:

the convection currents between the top floor and the basement

the floor has less average kinetic energy conducted to the basement

the basement does not allow radiation to take place

the walls of the basement insulate the cool basement

Answer 1

The method of heat transfer that causes the temperature difference between the basement and the top of the stairs is best described by:

the convection currents between the top floor and the basement

This is because convection involves the movement of air (or other fluids) due to differences in temperature and density, with cooler air sinking and warmer air rising, leading to the observable temperature difference.