Introduction

Pressure cooking goes back to the 17th century where it was invented in France. In other regions of the world, people have also developed devices that use the pressure of steam to prepare hot meals. The advantage of cooking this way is to keep the food moist while cooking it much faster. Additionally, at higher elevations, the boiling point of water drops as the pressure of the atmosphere goes down, which is problematic for folks who live far above sea level. Using a pressure cooker at higher elevations makes it possible for people to prepare their food more quickly and efficiently.

In this activity, to simulate a pressure cooker, you will heat a fixed volume of air in a double boiler. You will measure the temperature of the water in the boiler and pressure of the air in the container.

Objectives