Download Convection Currents and the Mantle

Convection Currents and the
Mantle
The Heat of the Earth
Earth’s outer core is nearly as hot as the
surface of the sun
Heat Transfer
The movement of energy from a warmer
object to a cooler object
Three Types of Heat Transfer
Radiation
Conduction
Convection
Radiation
The transfer of energy through empty space
Radiation
Heat transfer by radiation takes place with
no direct contact between a heat source
and an object
Conduction
Heat transfer by direct contact of particles of
matter
convection
Heat transfer by the movement of a heated
fluid
How Convection Works
During convection heated particles of fluid
begin to flow, transferring heat energy
from one part of the fluid to another
What Causes Convection
Heat transfer by convection is caused by
differences of temperature and density
within the fluid
Density
A measure of how much mass there is in a
volume of a substance
Convection Current
the flow that transfers heart within a fluid
The heating and cooling of the fluid,
changes in the fluid’s density, and the
force of gravity combine to set convection
currents in motion
Convection in Earth’s Mantle
The core creates convection currents that
flow through the asthenosphere
Convection in the Mantle
At the top of the asthensophere the hot
material spreads out and pushes the
cooler material out of the way
Convection in the Mantle
The cooler material sinks back into the
asthenosphere