How much energy is required to hard boil an egg?

It's impossible to give an exact number for the energy required to hard boil an egg. Here's why:

* Egg size and starting temperature: A larger egg will require more energy than a smaller one. The starting temperature of the egg (room temperature vs. straight from the fridge) also affects how much energy is needed.

* Boiling method: Boiling water on a stovetop is different from using a microwave or pressure cooker. Each method has varying efficiency and heat loss.

* Desired doneness: A perfectly hard-boiled egg requires a specific temperature and time, while a softer egg requires less.

However, we can make an educated guess:

* Approximate heat capacity of an egg: Roughly 3.7 kJ/kg*K (kilowatt-hours per kilogram per Kelvin).

* Average egg weight: Let's assume 50 grams (0.05 kg).

* Temperature change: From room temperature (around 20°C) to 100°C (boiling point of water). That's a change of 80 Kelvin.

Calculation:

Energy = mass * heat capacity * temperature change

Energy = 0.05 kg * 3.7 kJ/kg*K * 80 K

Energy ≈ 14.8 kJ (kilowatt-hours)

Important Note: This is a very simplified calculation and doesn't take into account the energy used to heat the water, the heat loss from the pot, and the energy required to maintain boiling for the desired time.

Therefore, the actual energy needed will be higher than this estimate.