A student places a large pot of cold water on a stove and heats it for one minute. Then she takes the pot of water off the burner and places it on the counter. Which best describes the convection currents?

The water near the hot bottom of the pot becomes warmer and less dense, so it rises while cooler, denser water sinks. These moving currents continue to redistribute thermal energy after the pot is removed, as long as temperature differences remain. Choice C reverses the density relationship: warmer water is less dense, not denser.

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