Convection in the mantle

CONVECTION CURRENTS

& THE MANTLE

CONVECTION CURRENTS

& THE MANTLE

Heat Transfer - The movement of energy from a warmer object to a cooler object

Why will this girl
burn her hand if
she touches the
pot?

CONVECTION CURRENTS

& THE MANTLE

Types of Heat Transfer - Radiation,Conduction, and Convection.

CONVECTION CURRENTS

& THE MANTLE

Convection - heat transfer by the movement of a heated fluid; heated
particles of fluid begin to flow,
transferring heat energy from one part
of the fluid to another.

CONVECTION CURRENTS

& THE MANTLE

Convection Current – The flow that transfers heat within a fluid; set in
motion by the heating and cooling of the fluid, changes in the fluid’s
density, and gravity; continues as
long as heat is added

Convection Current Diagram

Convection
Current
Convection
Current

Convection
Current

Crust

Crust

Crust

CONVECTION CURRENTS

& THE MANTLE

When you are roasting marshmallows, the stick
can heat up and burn your hand when you touch it
due to conduction.

Convection – What happens?

• Liquid or gas is heated and the particles move faster

• As they move faster, particles spread apart and take up more space and density
decreases

DENSITY

The amount of thickness or
compactness.

Less Dense

More Dense

Hotter objects are less dense
Less dense objects float

​

Density

Hot Magma vs. Cool Magma

The particles of hot magma are less dense because when magma heats up the particles in it expand and become less
compact.
Hot magma rises, transfers heat to the cool crust, then sinks.

Explanation of Convection in Earths Mantle

● Convection currents in Earth’s mantle cause the movement of tectonic plates.

● Movement of tectonic plates causes mountain formation, volcanic eruption and earthquakes.

● Convection currents is the continuous cycle of the rise and fall of hot magma in the mantle.

● Convection currents are caused from the extreme heat in Earth’s core.

CONVECTION CURRENTS

& THE MANTLE

Convection in the Earth’s Mantle – Heat

is from Earth’s core and from the mantle itself; rises into the
asthenosphere

Convection in Earth’s Mantle

•Earth’s mantle responds to heat. The heat source is the Earth’s core and the mantle itself.

•Hot columns of mantle material rise slowly
through the asthenosphere.

Convection Video