At Malini's home in Madurai, it takes 2 minutes to cook noodles. It takes 5 minutes to
cook in her friend Nalinis' home at Kodaikanal. Why?
Answers
temperature difference in places!
The time difference to cook the noodles in the two different places is due to the boiling point differences brought about due to the changes in atmospheric pressure and temperature.
What is the boiling point?
The boiling point is defined as the temperature at which the vapour pressure of the liquid becomes equal to the atmospheric pressure.
Environmental factors affecting boiling point:
- Temperature: Colder air has a higher atmospheric pressure. So, liquids placed in colder areas will exhibit a higher boiling point.
- Altitude: As we go above the sea level, the density of air decreases, thus atmospheric pressure also decreases. Thus, liquids tend to boil faster in higher altitudes.
- Low-pressure systems: Liquids tend to boil faster in low-pressure systems. Higher pressure systems raise the boiling point of the liquid, as in a pressure cooker.
Madurai is a town situated at a lower altitude close to sea level. The temperature and atmospheric pressure are relatively higher than that in Kodaikanal, which is a hill station situated in Tamil Nadu.
Since water boils faster in Kodaikanal, i.e., its boiling point gets lowered than the usual boiling point of water which is 100°C, it is unable to cook the noodles within 2 minutes and takes greater time.
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