What is the predominant method of heat transfer that causes water to boil?

The predominant method of heat transfer that causes water to boil is convection. During the boiling process, heat is applied to the water at the bottom of a container, often via a stove or other heating equipment. This heat causes the water at the bottom to warm up and become less dense, leading it to rise. As this heated water rises, cooler water from the top moves down to take its place. This circulation of water creates convection currents, which efficiently distributes heat throughout the water until it reaches the boiling point.

In this context, conduction refers to heat transfer through direct contact and is less significant than convection in boiling since it primarily affects the water in direct contact with the heat source. Radiation involves the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves and is not a significant factor in boiling water. Evaporation is the process where water molecules at the surface gain enough energy to become gas, but it does not encompass the overall process of boiling, which involves the entire body of liquid being heated through convection.