What form of energy causes noodles to cook in boiling water?

Here's how it works:

* Boiling water: Water boils at 100°C (212°F). When water boils, it absorbs heat energy and changes its state from liquid to vapor (steam).

* Heat transfer: The hot water molecules collide with the noodle molecules, transferring heat energy to them.

* Cooking process: The heat energy causes the noodle's starches to gelatinize, softening the noodles and making them cook.

So, while the water itself is the medium for transferring the energy, it's the heat energy that is responsible for the cooking process.