This post is a joint outcome from a couple classes I took in the
spring term, one of which was on two-phase fluid flow and the
other of which was on scientific communication. The science
communication class included a project in which we were to
translate a bit of technical literature to a popular science
level, and I selected for this purpose the discussion of boiling
processes presented in my two-phase flow course. It turns out
that boiling processes are a lot more interesting than I'd
expected (at least, to me), so on the off chance that anyone
else might also find this interesting I've posted my writing
project below. Let me know what you think! Most of us, even
those who don't cook, are probably familiar with the way that
water in a heated pot on the stove changes as it boils. First it
begins to steam slightly, then it begins to show a scattering of
tiny bubbles on the bottom surface. Eventually a few larger
bubbles form and start to drift up towards the top, and finally
the whole pot becomes consumed by