Have you ever gone camping in the mountains and heated water over an open fire? If so, then you probably discovered that the water boils much more quickly at the higher altitude than at sea level, but at a lower temperature.
The one thing that determines the boiling point of water, no matter where you are, is air pressure. High up in the mountains, there is less air pressure pushing down on the water, so it boils at about 181°F., or 90°C.
Down at sea level, with more air pressing against the water, it must reach a temperature of 212°F., or 100°C before it will boil. Therefore, a 3-minute egg will cook in 3 minutes at sea level, but for it to reach that same degree of “doneness,” it will need more time in higher altitudes.
Possibly Related Amazing Facts:
- How Do You Change the Freezing Point of Fresh Water?
- Why Does the Water Level Rise When a Lit Candle Standing in Water Is Covered By a Upturned Glass Jar?
- How Is Mean Sea Level Calculated and How Is the Height of a Mountain Measured?
- Why does the freezing point of water change with pressure and why doesn’t deep sea water freeze?
- How Are Lunar Mountains Different From Mountains On Earth and How Tall Are the Mountains On the Moon?
4 Comments
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Thank you for this. This was really helpful for a science assignment that I had to do.
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