Can 100 Watts of Electricity Boil a Liter of Water in an Insulated Container?

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SUMMARY

100 watts of electricity can indeed boil a liter of water in an insulated container, such as one using aerogel insulation or a partial vacuum. The discussion emphasizes the distinction between power and energy, clarifying that watts measure power (J/s) rather than heat. Once the container reaches the boiling point, the insulation will help maintain the heat, preventing significant heat loss to the environment. Thus, under optimal conditions, 100 watts is sufficient to achieve boiling in a well-insulated setup.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of thermodynamics, specifically the second law of thermodynamics
  • Basic knowledge of electrical power and energy concepts
  • Familiarity with insulation materials, particularly aerogel
  • Knowledge of phase changes in water, specifically boiling
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the thermal properties and applications of aerogel insulation
  • Learn about the principles of heat transfer in insulated systems
  • Explore the relationship between power, energy, and time in thermodynamic processes
  • Investigate practical experiments demonstrating boiling water using electric power
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, engineers working with thermal systems, and anyone interested in practical applications of thermodynamics and electrical heating.

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I would like to know if 100 watts of electricity can boil a liter of water over time. If the vessel containing the water is insulated say with arogel insulation or a partial vacuum. The reason for asking this question, in the second law of thermodynamics it says that "heat goes from a region of high heat to a region of less heat". So will the heat in the container once it has reached 100 watts start traveling into the electric cable, or will the the 100 watts of electricity no longer travel into the container, or will the heat be maintained at 100 watts
 
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You should go back to basics as the watt is not a unit of energy but a unit of power such that power = energy / time, more explicitly J/s. So you cannot talk of 100 watts of heat in the container.

Temperature is also not heat.
 
...however, 100w can certainly boil a small, insulated container of water.
 

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