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Quizzes > Science

Convection questions to test your heat transfer skills

Quick, free convection quiz to test your physics knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Zachary CorellUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art showing swirling fluid with red rising arrows and blue sinking arrows on dark blue background for convection quiz

This quiz helps you check your understanding of convection in fluids and how heat moves. For more practice, try the convection current quiz, compare basics in conduction vs convection, or deepen fundamentals with a short fluid flow practice quiz. You will see where to improve before a test or lab.

What is convection in heat transfer?
Heat transfer by bulk movement of fluid
Heat transfer through a vacuum
Heat transfer by atomic collisions within a solid
Heat transfer by electromagnetic waves
Convection is the mode of heat transfer that occurs when a fluid (liquid or gas) moves and carries thermal energy with it. It differs from conduction, where heat moves through a material without the bulk motion, and from radiation, which involves electromagnetic waves. In many engineering applications, convection dominates when fluids are in motion. See more at .
Which of the following best distinguishes natural convection from forced convection?
Forced convection only occurs in solids
Natural convection relies on buoyancy forces
Forced convection occurs without external fluid motion
Natural convection involves external pumps or fans
Natural convection is driven by buoyancy forces that result from density variations due to temperature differences in the fluid. Forced convection, on the other hand, involves external means, such as fans or pumps, to induce fluid motion. Recognizing the role of buoyancy is essential in distinguishing these two modes. For more details, see .
In a convection process, fluid motion arises primarily due to changes in which property?
Density
Viscosity
Thermal conductivity
Specific heat capacity
Fluid motion in natural convection is caused by local changes in density that occur when the fluid is heated or cooled. Warmer fluid becomes less dense and rises, while cooler, denser fluid sinks, creating a circulation pattern. This buoyancy-driven flow is the hallmark of natural convection. See for more information.
Which factor most directly increases the convective heat transfer coefficient in forced convection?
Surface emissivity
Fluid velocity
Specific heat capacity of the fluid
Thermal conductivity of the solid
In forced convection, increasing the fluid velocity reduces the thermal boundary layer thickness and enhances mixing, which raises the convective heat transfer coefficient. While thermal conductivity and fluid properties matter, velocity has the most direct impact on convective performance. Emissivity affects radiation, not convection. For details, visit .
Which dimensionless number represents the ratio of convective to conductive heat transfer at a fluid boundary?
Nusselt number
Biot number
Prandtl number
Reynolds number
The Nusselt number (Nu) quantifies the enhancement of heat transfer through a fluid layer as a result of convection, compared to pure conduction. It is defined as Nu = hL/k, where h is the convective heat transfer coefficient. High Nu values indicate strong convective effects. Learn more at .
The Prandtl number is the ratio of which two diffusivities in a fluid?
Momentum diffusivity to mass diffusivity
Mass diffusivity to thermal diffusivity
Momentum diffusivity to thermal diffusivity
Thermal diffusivity to momentum diffusivity
The Prandtl number (Pr) is defined as Pr = ?/?, where ? is the kinematic viscosity (momentum diffusivity) and ? is the thermal diffusivity of the fluid. It indicates the relative thickness of the velocity and thermal boundary layers. Fluids with high Prandtl numbers have thicker velocity layers and thinner thermal layers. For more, see .
How does increasing the thickness of the thermal boundary layer affect the local convective heat transfer coefficient?
It increases the coefficient
It decreases the coefficient
It changes it unpredictably
It has no effect
A thicker thermal boundary layer increases resistance to heat transfer between the solid surface and the bulk fluid, which lowers the local convective heat transfer coefficient (h). Thinner boundary layers promote higher heat fluxes. This relationship is fundamental in boundary layer theory. More details can be found at .
In natural convection along a vertical hot plate, why does the fluid adjacent to the surface rise?
Its density decreases
Its pressure becomes lower
Its viscosity increases
Thermal conductivity spikes
When fluid near a heated vertical plate gains thermal energy, its density decreases, making it buoyant relative to the cooler surrounding fluid. This buoyancy force causes the warmer fluid to rise and drives natural convection flow. Pressure changes are secondary effects, and viscosity changes are minimal. See .
Which expression correctly defines the convective heat transfer coefficient h?
q_conv = k * A * ?T / L
h = q_conv/(A * ?T)
h = k / L
q_conv = h * A / ?T
By definition, the convective heat transfer coefficient h relates the heat flux q_conv to the temperature difference ?T and area A by h = q_conv/(A·?T). This formula is fundamental in convective heat transfer calculations. Other expressions mix up conduction relations or invert the formula. More information is at .
At approximately what Reynolds number does boundary layer flow over a flat plate transition from laminar to turbulent?
2 × 10^6
2 × 10^3
5 × 10^5
1 × 10^4
For flow over a flat plate, the laminar-to-turbulent transition typically occurs around a Reynolds number of 5×10^5, based on distance from the leading edge. Below this value, the boundary layer is predominantly laminar; above it, turbulent structures start forming. This threshold is widely used in convection correlation development. See .
In mixed convection, which dimensionless number indicates the relative importance of natural versus forced convection?
Reynolds number
Biot number
Richardson number
Prandtl number
The Richardson number (Ri) is defined as Gr/Re^2 and quantifies the ratio of buoyancy to inertial forces in a flow. Small Ri (<0.1) indicates forced convection dominance, while large Ri (>10) indicates natural convection dominance. It is a key parameter when both modes occur simultaneously. Read more at .
What happens to the convective heat transfer coefficient when flow over a surface transitions from laminar to turbulent?
It decreases
It remains constant
It increases significantly
It increases slightly
Turbulent flow enhances mixing in the boundary layer, which disrupts temperature gradients and significantly increases the convective heat transfer coefficient compared to laminar flow. This transition is exploited in heat exchanger design to boost performance. Quantitative correlations reflect much higher h in turbulent regimes. For further reading, see .
Which correlation is commonly used for predicting average Nusselt number in natural convection along a vertical plate over a wide range of Rayleigh numbers?
Colburn analogy
Sieder-Tate correlation
Dittus-Boelter correlation
Churchill-Chu correlation
The Churchill - Chu correlation is widely used to predict the average Nusselt number for natural convection on vertical plates over Rayleigh numbers from 10^4 to 10^9. It accounts for both laminar and turbulent subranges in a single expression. Other correlations like Dittus - Boelter or Sieder - Tate are applicable to forced convection in pipes. See for more details.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Explain Convection Currents -

    Describe how temperature differences in fluids create density gradients that drive convection currents in both liquids and gases.

  2. Analyze Temperature - Density Relationships -

    Interpret how variations in thermal energy transfer affect fluid density and lead to the movement of convection currents in different scenarios.

  3. Apply Convection Principles -

    Use key concepts to predict the direction and strength of convection currents based on given temperature and fluid properties.

  4. Solve Heat Transfer Quiz Questions -

    Demonstrate your command of convection questions by accurately answering quiz items focused on heat transfer in fluids.

  5. Evaluate Real-World Convection Examples -

    Assess everyday and industrial situations where convection currents play a critical role in thermal energy transfer.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Newton's Law of Cooling -

    Newton's Law of Cooling defines the convective heat transfer rate as Q̇ = h·A·(T_surface - T_fluid), where h is the convective heat transfer coefficient. When tackling convection questions, this equation is your foundation for predicting how quickly thermal energy moves between a solid and a fluid (nist.gov). Remember the mnemonic "Q equals h A ΔT" to lock in this formula.

  2. Natural vs. Forced Convection -

    Natural convection currents in fluids arise from density differences when warmer fluid rises and cooler fluid sinks, like a hot-air balloon effect (britannica.com). In forced convection, an external agent such as a fan or pump boosts fluid flow, increasing the heat transfer coefficient h. Distinguish them by asking: "Is the fluid motion driven by buoyancy or by an external force?"

  3. Key Dimensionless Numbers -

    The Reynolds (Re), Prandtl (Pr) and Grashof (Gr) numbers characterize convection regimes, combining fluid properties and flow conditions (Incropera & DeWitt). Use Pr = ν/α to compare momentum vs. thermal diffusivity and Gr = g·β·ΔT·L³/ν² to gauge buoyancy effects. A handy memory phrase is "Real People Grow Radishes" for Re, Pr, Gr, Ra (where Ra = Gr·Pr).

  4. Buoyancy-Driven Convection Currents -

    In natural convection, buoyant forces F_b = ϝ·g·V act on density differences Δϝ = - ϝ·β·ΔT, generating vertical fluid motion. This principle explains oceanic circulation and mantle plumes (MIT OpenCourseWare). Visualize warm fluid "bubbling up" like a lava lamp to lock in the concept.

  5. Practical Applications -

    Convection currents in fluids govern weather patterns, HVAC design and industrial cooling systems - think of sea breezes or radiator fans. Real-world heat transfer quiz questions often ask you to identify whether a system is dominated by natural or forced convection and to compute h from empirical correlations (ASHRAE Handbook). Applying these examples boosts your confidence before any convection quiz.

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