Final answer:
Convection occurs as the heat causes the water to expand and decrease in density. The hotter water rises, transferring heat to other regions of the water, while the colder water sinks to the bottom.
Step-by-step explanation:
Convection is a process in which liquids, when heated from underneath, have regions where hot material rises and cooler material descends. In the case of a pot of heated water, convection occurs as the heat causes the water to expand and decrease in density. The hotter water rises, transferring heat to other regions of the water, while the colder water sinks to the bottom.
An example of how a pot of heated water demonstrates convection can be observed through a simple experiment. Take two small pots of water and place a drop of food coloring near the bottom of each. Leave one pot on a benchtop and heat the other over a stovetop. Watch how the color spreads and how long it takes the color to reach the top. This observation helps visualize the convective loops that form as a result of the heated water.