Pressure Cooking: How Does It Get Hotter Than 15 psi?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter aclark609
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    cooker Pressure
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the functioning of pressure cookers, specifically addressing how they can achieve temperatures higher than the boiling point of water at standard atmospheric pressure. The scope includes conceptual understanding of pressure and temperature relationships in cooking applications.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant initially questions how a pressure cooker can boil water at 121 degrees Celsius when 1 atm is equivalent to 15 psi, suggesting confusion about pressure definitions.
  • A later post acknowledges the misunderstanding, clarifying that the pressure in a pressure cooker is 1 atm above normal atmospheric pressure.
  • Another participant comments on the nature of critical thinking, contrasting it with less effective questioning, though this does not directly address the technical aspects of pressure cooking.
  • A subsequent reply expresses appreciation for the recognition of critical thinking, indicating a positive reception to the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the initial question regarding pressure and temperature, as the first participant's confusion is resolved by their own later clarification. However, the technical aspects of pressure cooking remain somewhat contested.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not fully explore the implications of pressure and temperature relationships, nor does it address the underlying physics in detail. There may be assumptions about the audience's familiarity with pressure definitions that are not explicitly stated.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in cooking science, pressure cooking mechanisms, or the relationship between pressure and boiling points may find this discussion relevant.

aclark609
Messages
35
Reaction score
1
Okay so if 1 atm is the pressure in our natural surroundings (I know it depends on altitude, but humor me, ummkay?), and 1 atm = 15 psi, then why does a pressure cooker get water to boil at 121 degrees Celsius. I mean the pressures are the same. How does a pressure cooker allow it to get hotter?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Nevermind. I just found out it's 1 atm above normal atmospheric pressure. Place palm to face emoticon here. Sorry.
 
A critical thinker continuously poses their own good questions, then answers them.

A sloppy thinker is unable to post a clear question and so must wait for another to work out what the question should have been, when the answer becomes immediately obvious.

aclark609; Congratulations on your critical thinking, you will go far.

Susan Sontag said:
"The best answer is one that destroys the question."
 
Thank You! I did not expect to get acclaimed for this lol.
 

Similar threads

High School Pressure cooker at 1 atmosphere?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Undergrad How Does Pressure Affect the Boiling Point of Water?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
7K
Undergrad Why Does Water Temperature Vary with Depth in the Ocean?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
5K
Pressure Cooker Internal Energy Problem
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Why Did It Take 15 Minutes for My Water to Boil?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Finding the Optimal Mass for a Pressure Cooker Cover
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
16K
Undergrad How weather conditions affect a golf shot
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
How does water vapor in the atmosphere form under normal conditions?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
7K
Pot cooking food and being cooled, how does the pressure change?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
5K
How does a metering device on an A/C lower the pressure?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K