Some ice cubes are added to a glass of water at room temperature. Describe in terms of density changes, how convection currents occur in the water to cause the water to cool down faster.

15/11/2019 at 12:40 pm (last edited 15/07/2020 at 1:03 pm)

The water surrounding the ice cubes near the surface of the water lose heat to the ice cubes, contract and become denser.
The denser, cooler water then sinks downwards, causing the warmer, less dense water to rise upwards to take its place. This process repeats, setting up convection currents in the water, cooling down the water faster.