Knowing about covection currents, how do heaters warm the whole house?
Heaters warm the whole house through a process called convection. Convection is the transfer of heat through the movement of fluids (such as air or water). In the case of heating, the heater warms the air in the room.
Here's an explanation of the process of how heaters warm the whole house using convection:
1. The heater, whether it's a furnace, radiator, or another type of heating device, applies heat to the air directly in its vicinity.
2. As the air near the heater gets heated, it becomes less dense and starts to rise due to its buoyancy. This upward movement of warm air creates a convection current.
3. As the warm air rises, it creates a space that needs to be filled. Cooler air from the surroundings (typically near the floor) moves in to replace the rising warm air.
4. The cycle continues as the new cooler air gets heated by the heating device and rises, while more cool air circulates in to take its place.
5. This constant circulation of air creates a flow of heat throughout the room and eventually throughout the whole house, as the warm air mixes with the cooler air in different areas.
By creating convection currents, heaters ensure that the warm air produced by the heating device circulates and spreads throughout the space, gradually warming the entire house.