How is energy moved through the convective zone layer of a star like the Sun?

Answer

Physical movement of hot pockets of gas rising and sinking

The convective zone is the outer layer of energy transport where the plasma is cooler and less dense compared to the radiative zone. Here, the mechanism for moving energy shifts from photon diffusion to bulk motion of the plasma itself, analogous to water boiling in a pot. Pockets of gas that become hot near the underlying layers rise buoyantly toward the star's surface (the photosphere), releasing their heat upon reaching the cooler exterior. These now cooled parcels of gas then sink back down towards the interior to be reheated, establishing efficient convection currents that ferry the star's energy outward to be radiated into space.

How is energy moved through the convective zone layer of a star like the Sun?

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