Is the temperature of the steam inside a pressure cooker higher or lower than the boiling point of water?

The temperature of the steam inside a pressure cooker is higher than the boiling point of water. Here's why:

1. The boiling point of water is 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit) at standard atmospheric pressure (1 atmosphere or 101.3 kilopascals). This is the temperature at which water vapor pressure equals the atmospheric pressure.

2. A pressure cooker works by trapping the steam produced from boiling water, thereby increasing the pressure inside the cooker.

3. According to the principles of thermodynamics, an increase in pressure leads to an increase in temperature. Therefore, the steam inside a pressure cooker is at a higher pressure and thus a higher temperature than the boiling point of water at standard atmospheric pressure.

4. The exact temperature inside a pressure cooker can vary but is typically around 121 degrees Celsius (250 degrees Fahrenheit) at a pressure of about 15 psi (pounds per square inch), which is above the standard atmospheric pressure.

So, the temperature of the steam inside a pressure cooker is higher than the boiling point of water.