What is the term for heat transfer by the movement of heated air?

The term for heat transfer by the movement of heated air is convection. This process occurs when warmer air rises and cooler air moves in to take its place, creating a circulating movement. Convection is fundamental in many natural and mechanical processes, such as weather patterns and heating systems, where hot air's upward movement helps distribute warmth throughout a space.

Convection differs significantly from conduction, which involves heat transfer through direct contact between materials, and radiation, which is the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves without needing a medium. Induction is a method used primarily in cooking, where heat is generated by electromagnetic fields, rather than through the movement of air. Understanding these distinctions is crucial in fields related to nutrition and food science, as they often involve the principles of heat transfer in cooking methods.