When a pot of water is put on stove the top gets hot primarily by?

Here's why:

* Convection: The heat from the stove burner transfers to the water at the bottom of the pot. This heated water becomes less dense and rises. Cooler water from the top of the pot sinks down to take its place. This continuous cycle of rising and sinking water creates a convection current, which distributes heat throughout the pot.

Let's look at why the other options are less likely:

* Conduction: While some heat transfer occurs through conduction (direct contact between the pot and the water), it's less significant than convection in heating the entire pot of water.

* Radiation: Radiation is a form of heat transfer through electromagnetic waves. While some heat from the burner might radiate towards the top of the pot, it's not the primary way the water gets hot.

In summary: Convection is the dominant mechanism for heating the top of a pot of water on a stove.