QUESTION

Medium

Science & Technology

Prelims 2021

In a pressure cooker, the temperature at which the food is cooked depends mainly upon which of the following?

  1. Area of the hole in the lid.
  2. Temperature of the flame
  3. Weight of the lid

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The size of the hole in the lid regulates the amount of steam released. A larger hole permits more steam to escape, leading to reduced pressure and subsequently affecting the temperature.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Boiling water can never exceed 100 degrees Celsius, regardless of the intensity of the flame beneath the pot. However, within a pressure cooker, the temperature can elevate to as high as 121 degrees Celsius. The heightened cooking temperature serves to decrease the cooking duration rather than the temperature itself.

Statement 3 is correct: If the weight is heavier, it will require higher pressure to lift it, resulting in higher pressure inside the cooker before excess steam can escape. Higher pressure leads to a higher boiling point for the water inside the cooker, which in turn increases the cooking temperature. Conversely, if the weight is lighter, it results in a lower pressure inside the cooker and a lower boiling point for the water, leading to a lower cooking temperature.

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