Why is My Potato Salad Mushy? Heat Capacity

Food, Physics
If you have a curious mind, you look at everyday matters differently. You ask yourself questions others do not care about. What is spider silk made of? What happens when water boils? Why do canned whole tomatoes look so perfect? Why are buttercups so bright? Are there dust storms on Mars? But now we ask: Since others make delicious potato salad, why is my potato salad mushy? The Challenge Potato salad is one of the most satisfying foods out there. It is low-cost and complements even simple meals. But it can detract from a meal if the potatoes are too hard, or if the potato salad is better called mashed potato salad. Such results obviously involve potato variety, size, and uniformity of the cut pieces. But more is involved. Temperature…
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Water Coolant in Internal Combustion Engines

Physics
[caption id="attachment_7705" align="alignright" width="440"] Most internal combustion engine radiators use water as coolant.[/caption] Automobile manufacturers almost invariably design their automobiles to use radiator cooling. Within the radiator, the fluid of choice is water coolant. A few additives in small quantities help minimize the formation of rust and reduce the freezing point. Why do they use radiators, and why is water the liquid of choice? As you might expect, it is the physical and chemical properties of water that dictate its use. What properties? Fluid Choice Common fluids include free moving solid-particles, liquids, and gases. As an example of fluid solids, black molybdenum sulfide is a solid lubricant used on certain moving automotive parts. That gases can cool should be intuitive. One blows on a forkful of hot food to keep…
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