What do convection currents transfer energy through?

Answer 1

Short Answer:

A convection current transfers thermal energy by physically carrying it from one place to another.

Explanation:

This answer will considering only "natural convection" currents that arise due to the difference in density of a fluid caused by heating. Forced convection results from some artificial process like a fan moving warm air.

When a region of a fluid is less dense that its surrounding, it feel a buoyant force. Conversely for a more dense region. A fluid current results with less dense material going up in the gravitational field and more dense fluid going down. Normally, heating a fluid in one region decreases its density (though the opposite works as well) and so the hotter fluid moves up. That motion is natural (thermal) convection. Motion of the hot fluid carries thermal energy, hence the answer to the question. "A convection current transfers thermal energy by physically carrying it from one place to another."

Answer 2

The rock of the upper mantle known as the asthenosphere is plastic-like but not molten. It acts like a conveyor belt, moving heat from Earth's interior upward, and cooled material downward in a big loop. New crust is created where mantle material reaches the surface at places called mid-ocean ridges. Older, colder oceanic crust is subducted and drawn into the mantle, completing the loop.

Answer 3

The outer core is molten iron /nickel. It is slowly solidifying onto the inner core. The outer core provides heat to the lower mantle. The lower mantle behaves in a plastic manner in that it moves. Since the heated rock is slighly lighter in density, it pushes upward and this results eventually in circular currents of plastic rock calledconvection currents.

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Answer 4

In convection currents, hot air rises and cold air sinks.

Answer 5

They transfer the tectonic plates and do it by moving in a circular pattern.