On the motion of a fluid heated from below

Abstract
In some previous experiments (Schmidt and Milverton 1935) a layer of water between two horizontal plates was slowly heated from below. The critical temperature difference at which the water began to move was found from a change in the slope of the curve relating the difference of temperature between the plates and the rate of supply of heat to the lower plate. An optical refraction (Saunders and Fishenden 1935) method was also used for finding the critical condition, and the results found by the two methods agreed and conformed to a theoretical formula of Jeffreys (1928) within the limits of experimental error. The present experiments were undertaken to find whether any change in the type of motion occurs at higher temperature differences, and also to study further the vertical and horizontal temperature gradients in the moving fluid using the optical method. It was also thought of interest to perform experiments with air instead of water. An improved apparatus was used, in which the downward heat loss from the lower plate could be measured, so that the actual heat transfer between the plates could be found.

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