Which of the following factors can alter convection patterns?

The factor that can significantly alter convection patterns is the temperature difference between fluids. Convection relies on the movement of fluid caused by changes in temperature and density. When there is a notable temperature difference, the warmer fluid tends to rise while the cooler fluid sinks, creating a circulation pattern. This movement is driven by the principles of buoyancy, where warmer, less dense fluid rises and cooler, denser fluid descends.

The larger the temperature gradient between the fluids, the more vigorous the convection currents can become. Thus, altering this temperature difference will directly impact how and to what extent convection occurs within a space.

In comparison, while the size of the room and the height of the ceiling can influence the distribution of air and possibly the rates of convection, they do not change the fundamental nature of how convection operates. The color of the walls generally affects heat absorption and radiation more than it does convection patterns, since convection is more about fluid dynamics than surface characteristics.