What kind of heat transfer involves the flow of fluid?

Convection is the type of heat transfer that involves the flow of fluid, which can be a liquid or a gas. This process occurs when warmer parts of a fluid rise while cooler parts sink, creating a circulation pattern that transfers heat throughout the fluid. For example, when water is heated on a stove, the heated water at the bottom of the pot becomes less dense and rises to the top, while the cooler, denser water descends to take its place. This continuous movement allows heat to be transferred efficiently throughout the fluid.

Understanding convection is crucial in many practical applications, such as heating systems, refrigeration, and even meteorology, where air movement significantly influences temperature distribution in the atmosphere.