What is convection in terms of heat transfer?

Convection refers to the process of heat transfer through the movement of fluids, which can include liquids and gases. In convection, warmer fluid rises due to its lower density, while cooler fluid descends, creating a circulation pattern that effectively transfers heat. This mechanism is critical in various natural and artificial processes, including weather patterns, boiling water, and heating systems.

Understanding convection is essential in many fields, including physical science, engineering, and even health and fitness environments where temperature and comfort during workouts might be influenced by air movement and circulation. The other options represent different forms of heat transfer: radiation involves energy transfer through electromagnetic waves without needing a medium, conduction describes heat transfer through direct contact, and evaporation refers to heat loss through the transformation of liquid into vapor, but they do not accurately describe convection.