Gaby Elsusu

Questions from practical

1. Explain what causes convection currents

Temperature is basically what causes convection currents. This is proved because when heat comes in contact with the crystal it splits into particles due to the heat which then rises up to the cold surface. This is where it cools down and starts to sink to the base where it settles. Also if it is a cold convection the crystal starts at the top/surface and just drops straight to the bottom and settles.

2. Identify the direction of a ‘cold’ current

The direction of a cold current is downwards as the crystal starts at the top and cools down sinking to the bottom where it settles

Summary

During this pracical on convection currents I have investigated what happens in a hot convection and also what happens in a cold convection. I investigated the motion and what happens during these convection currents.

In this project I have basically learnt two main things and that is what happens in a hot convection and what happens in a cold convection. In a hot convection the crystal starts in the centre of a beaker at the bottom. the heat then forces it to split into many particles and rise up to the cold surface. Once it hits the surface it then cooles down and settles at the bottom of the beaker. In a cold convection the crystal is ontop of the water and just below the ice and what happens is that the ice makes it really cold so it drops straight to the bottom where it settles.