I4-12: BOILING WATER BY PUMPING

ID Code: I4-12
Purpose: Demonstrate water boiling under reduced pressure.
Description: Place a beaker of water in the bell jar attached to a vacuum pump. Turn on the pump and the water will begin to boil. Discuss the necessity of boiling food longer to cook it at higher elevations. Talk about bubble chambers and cosmic rays influencing when bubbles first appear in the liquid.

Note: Some of this effect is simply from the air dissolved in the water coming out due to the action of the pump.

Availability: Available