Question

While camping up at Haloooo Mountain (5,500 feet above sea level), it generally takes Sandy about the same amount of time to boil water for her soup as it takes to make a sandwich. This week, Sandy is camping at a trail that is only about 200 feet above sea level. Sandy is very hungry and wants something to eat immediately. Should she make the soup or sandwich? Which would be ready more quickly and why?

Answer 1

She should make soup. When you are way above sea level, the atmospheric pressure decreases. Boiling starts when the vapor pressure of the liquid is the same with the atmospheric pressure. This would mean that water boils at a much lower temperature than the usual 100deg C. So it would take longer for the components in the soup to cook compared to when it is cooked on the foot of the mountain.