In heat transfer, when warm air rises, this is known as what process?

The process of warm air rising is known as convection. This occurs because warmer air is less dense than cooler air. As the air warms up, it becomes lighter and rises, while cooler air moves in to take its place. This movement creates a convection current, which is a key mechanism for heat transfer in fluids, including air and liquids.

In distinguishing convection from other processes, conduction refers to heat transfer through direct contact between materials, where heat moves through a substance without the movement of the material itself. Radiation is the transfer of heat in the form of electromagnetic waves, which can occur through a vacuum and does not require a medium. Evaporation is the process of a liquid turning into a gas and is often associated with heat transfer as it absorbs energy, but it is not specifically related to the rising of air. Thus, the correct identification of the warm air rising process as convection underscores its role in heat transfer through fluid motion.