pV = nRT. If the temperature increases, there must be a corresponding increase in the pressure or the volume (or both). In this tea kettle case, the volume of the steam increases right out the top of the kettle. But the temperature can increase above 100.
Sent from my iPhone. On Feb 9, 2011, at 21:43, Jed Rothwell <jedrothw...@gmail.com> wrote: > Stephen A. Lawrence <sa...@pobox.com> wrote: > > The kettle is still filled with water vapor -- "dry steam" -- and the > pressure inside is still 1 atmosphere, give or take a few millibars. > > What temperature do you suppose the steam inside the kettle is at? > > Could this be -- gasp! -- an example of superheated steam at 1 atmosphere?? > > Darn right. > > Nope. It is 100 deg C. This is well established. The only way you can raise > the temperature is to pressurize it. It does not matter what the temperature > of kettle surface is. > > - Jed >
