Which of the following is an example of thermal conduction when a pot of water is boiling on the stove?

Thermal conduction is the process by which heat energy is transmitted through collisions between neighboring molecules. In the context of a pot of water boiling on the stove, thermal conduction occurs in the following steps:

1. The stove burner is turned on, producing heat. This heat is transferred to the pot sitting on the burner.

2. The pot, being made of a conductive material (usually metal), quickly absorbs this heat. The heat energy causes the molecules of the pot to vibrate more rapidly.

3. As these molecules vibrate, they collide with their neighboring molecules, transferring the heat energy to them. This process continues throughout the pot, effectively spreading the heat from the burner across the entire base of the pot.

4. The water inside the pot then absorbs this heat from the pot through the process of conduction. The heat causes the water molecules to move faster and faster until they have enough energy to break the surface tension of the water and evaporate, which we see as boiling.

So, the example of thermal conduction in this scenario is the transfer of heat from the stove burner, to the pot, and then to the water.