what are the three ways to heat water to make steam?

Question

what are the three ways to heat water to make steam?

Answer 1

Hi,

 

I saw this question and it intrigued me. I certainly think Answer 1 is vey good. However, when I read the question my thinking went in a completely different direction ... I'd propose that the three ways are

 

1) Conduction - for example, put the water in a pot, and set the pot on top of a hot burner; heat is conducted from the burner to the bottom of the water

 

2) Convection - with our pot of water, but hot water at the bottom is less dense than the cooler water at the top, so the hot water rises and the cool water falls (whereupon it gets heated by conduction)

 

3) Radiation - just put the water in the microwave!

 

So now you have 2 answers ... maybe you can get extra credit.

Answer 2

What are the three ways to heat water to make steam?

1. Fossil fuels such as coal or oil, which can be burned to heat water and make steam
2. Nuclear energy - the heat from a nuclear reactor is used to heat water to make steam
3. Solar energy - large arrays of mirrors can be used collect and focus sunlight to heat water and make steam, much like a magnifying glass can be used to burn a leaf
4. There is also geothermal energy.  Most geothermal generating systems use the steam generated directly by the geothermal source; so they do not use the geothermal energy to make steam.