A pressure cooker is a covered pot sealed everywhere except for a small circular opening in the top

Question

A pressure cooker is a covered pot sealed everywhere except for a small circular opening in the top. A small weight placed over this opening determines the pressure at which steam is released from the pot. Suppose that the radius of the opening is 0.512 mm and the weight is 0.847 N. Find the maximum pressure inside the pot.

Answer 1

We can find the pressure by dividing the force by the area of the opening.  The pressure is applied on the small weight that covers the opening.

 

Pressure = Force / Area

 

The area of the circular opening is π(0.512 mm)² = 0.824 mm²

 

Pressure = (0.847 N) / (0.824 mm²)

             = 1.02 N/mm²