The metal handle of a pot heated on a stove becomes hot after a period of time. Which process causes the handle to become hot?

The process that causes the pot handle to become hot is called conduction. Here are the steps explaining how it happens:

1. The pot is placed on the stove and the stove is turned on. The heat from the stove is transferred to the bottom of the pot.

2. The particles in the pot at the point of contact with the stove start to vibrate faster due to the heat energy.

3. These fast vibrating particles then collide with their neighboring particles, causing them to vibrate faster as well. This process continues throughout the pot.

4. The handle of the pot is made of metal, a good conductor of heat. So, the heat energy is transferred from the pot to the handle through the process of conduction.

5. Over time, the handle becomes hot as the heat energy from the stove is conducted through the pot to the handle.

This is why it's always a good idea to use a pot holder or oven mitt when handling pots on the stove.