The Physics of Burning Your House Down

I thought about it for a while, and I figured out why you're not supposed to throw water on a grease fire. It's because the boiling water actually makes things hotter, since water boils at a higher temperature than the grease boils. And I didn't have to damage anything to figure it out!

Well, the oil burned, but I can always buy more oil. And a plastic cup melted a bit near the lip from the heat. And I broke a plate, but it was a cheap plate, anyway. The cushion I used to smother the fire is just fine, though; there's only an oil stain, and that'll come out in the wash.

Look, it's not like I meant to start the grease fire.