Convective Instability and Thermal Expansion

This lecture discusses convective instability and thermal expansion, focusing on the concepts of Rayleigh number, mass conservation, momentum conservation, energy conservation, and the equation of state. The instructor explains the importance of understanding fluid properties, conducting small manipulations to quantify heat transfer, and analyzing the effects of buoyancy-driven convection rolls. Various scenarios are presented, including uniform heating producing rolls, increasing temperature differences, and rotating boxes. The lecture emphasizes the significance of differential interferograms in visualizing convective instability and the role of thermal conductivity in heat transfer.