rabbiofberlin-
actually, the gas is piped in THROUGH the pilot light and runs to the burner. No, it isn’t. If it worked that way you would see a flame running from the pilot to the tube the entire time the burner was lit.
So, it is ignited by the pilot BEFORE it even reaches the burner… No, it isn’t. It ignites when it reaches the existing flame at the burner.
…and the actual source of the fire is at the pilot light-not at the burner. No, it isn’t. Once the burner is lit, the pilot isn’t needed by that burner.
When you reduce the gas intake the fire RETREATS from the burner and remains in the pilot light. No, it doesn’t. The burner goes out since the fuel component of the fuel-air mix needed for combustion is missing. The pilot remains unaffected.
Bemused-
…if the pilot light goes out while the burner flame is on, the burner flame will be unaffected, correct? It will remain lit without the assistance of the pilot, because it is now a separate flame nourished by the gas flowing through the burner? Yes, exactly.