Question

spaghetti takes about 9 minutes to cook at sea level, but about 14 minutes in the mountains. why do you think this happens???

Answer 1

Water boils when the vapor pressure of the water equals the atmospheric pressure that's pressing down on it.  Water boils at a lower temperature (more easily) at higher elevations (like on mountains), because:

-  Atmospheric pressure is lower at higher elevation

-  Easier for vapor pressure to equal this lower atmospheric pressure

Since the water boils at a lower temperature, it takes longer for the pasta to cook.  

Answer 2

This happens because of difference of pressures at sea level and in the mountains. In the mountains pressure has a lower value, so the water used to cook has a lower boiling point and it needs more time to "soften spaghetti up".