Change of State

CHANGE OF STATE

My younger son once asked me the reason for formation of bubbles along the wall of utensil when one boils water. I explained to him that this was on account of change of state (Solid State to Liquid State to Gaseous State). On listening he asked me another question. If an egg is also a liquid inside, why does it not change in to Gaseous state when we heat it?

So, both of us conducted an experiment. I took two utensils and filled them with water and put them on heat to boil. In one I put a whole egg without breaking it . Later, I took another egg and broke it open and poured the liquid contents in hot boiling water.

We observed both the utensils. The one in which I poured liquid egg cooked quickly in a fraction of second. I told my son that this is called A Poached Egg.

The other utensil was kept undisturbed and the egg in it boiled over about 20 minutes.

I placed both the dishes in front of Jay and asked him to make a choice for breakfast. Jay chose the boiled egg. He suggested me to give the poached egg to dog.

The boiled egg was presentable; although it took longer time to boil.

The poached egg was lousy in appearance but cooked in a minute.

I told Jay

1. Egg liquid polymerized in water to form poached egg and so the state of matter changed ( Liquid to Solid)

2. I also explained Jay that if one focused on the task ( like boiling an unopened egg in water) the end result is far superior in quality than the haphazard way of cooking a poached egg .

    Focused efforts take longer time to fetch results and the result is often more presentable. I taught him to be focused in life and be patient.

Above was a learning experience for me, as much as it was for Jay.

I realized how small experiments have so much more to teach in life! In demonstrating the experiment, I changed my state.. from a father to a teacher….