Why are areas around a light bulb warmer than others when hands are placed near it?

The phenomenon of warmer air above a light bulb relates to the principles of convection. When the light bulb is turned on, it generates heat, which warms the surrounding air. This warm air is less dense than the cooler air nearby, so it rises. As this warm air ascends, it creates a convection current where cooler air moves in to replace it, further getting heated by the bulb.

The result is that the area above the light bulb becomes the warmest because that’s where the heated air accumulates as it rises. This upward movement of warm air and the simultaneous downward flow of cooler air illustrate the convection process beautifully, making it the correct answer in this scenario. The areas to the sides of the bulb or directly touching it would not exhibit the same warmth as the air above due to the nature of convection currents.