High School

In order to boil an egg, a student puts the egg in a pan of water and heats the pan on the stove. Which methods of heat transfer are used to transfer the majority of the heat to the water and to the egg?

A. Radiation and convection
B. Radiation and conduction
C. Conduction and convection
D. Conduction, convection, and radiation

Answer :

Final answer:

When boiling an egg, the majority of heat transfer occurs through conduction and convection. Conduction transfers heat from the pan to the water and then to the egg, while convection helps circulate the heated water. Although radiation is present, it plays a minimal role in this process.


Explanation:

Methods of Heat Transfer in Boiling an Egg

When boiling an egg in a pan of water, we observe several methods of heat transfer at work. The primary methods involved are conduction and convection.

1. Conduction

Conduction is the transfer of heat through direct contact. In this case, the heat from the stove heats the metal of the pan, which then directly heats the water in contact with it. As the temperature of the water increases, it also heats the egg through direct contact.

2. Convection

Convection involves the transfer of heat by the movement of fluids (liquids or gases). As the water at the bottom of the pan gets heated, it becomes less dense and rises, while cooler, denser water descends. This creates a flow that evenly distributes the heat throughout the water, effectively maintaining a uniform cooking temperature for the egg.

While radiation occurs to some extent (heat emanating from the stove), the majority of heat transfer in this scenario is through conduction and convection. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is conduction and convection.


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