Question 1

How does a refrigerator keep things cold?

Accepted Answer

A refrigerator uses a special liquid that takes heat away from inside the fridge. When this liquid moves through the fridge, it cools the air inside. This keeps your food fresh and cold.

Question 2

Why does a fan make us feel cool?

Accepted Answer

A fan blows air around which helps sweat on your skin evaporate faster. This process cools your skin, making you feel cooler even if the air is still warm.

Question 3

How does a toaster work?

Accepted Answer

A toaster heats wires inside when you plug it in. These wires glow red hot and use heat to turn bread into toast by removing moisture and browning its surface.

Question 4

What makes a washing machine spin?

Accepted Answer

A washing machine has a motor inside that makes the drum spin really fast. This spinning uses force to squeeze water out of your clothes after they’re washed.

Question 5

Why does my hair dryer blow hot air?

Accepted Answer

A hair dryer sucks in air and passes it over a small wire coil that heats up. This warms the air, and a fan inside blows the warm air out to dry your hair.

Question 6

How does a microwave oven heat food?

Accepted Answer

A microwave oven sends out tiny waves that make water molecules in the food move and heat up. These waves are kind of like the waves in a pool, but you can't see them.

Question 7

How does a vacuum cleaner pick up dirt?

Accepted Answer

A vacuum cleaner has a fan inside that creates a suction force. This suction pulls dirt and small pieces of debris into the vacuum and traps them in a bag or container.

Question 8

Why do lights turn on with a switch?

Accepted Answer

When you flip a light switch, you turn on a pathway for electricity to travel to the bulb. This electricity makes the bulb glow, lighting up the room.

Question 9

How does an iron make clothes smooth?

Accepted Answer

An iron heats up its flat surface, which you press on clothes. The heat and pressure relax the fibers in the fabric, making them smooth and wrinkle-free.

Question 10

What makes an electric kettle boil water?

Accepted Answer

An electric kettle has a coil inside that gets hot when plugged in. This coil heats the water until it boils, allowing us to make tea or hot cocoa.

Question 11

How does a smoke detector know there's smoke?

Accepted Answer

Some smoke detectors have a tiny light beam inside. When smoke interrupts this beam, the detector senses something is wrong and sounds an alarm.

Question 12

Why does a blender make things liquid?

Accepted Answer

A blender has sharp blades inside that spin fast when you turn it on. These blades chop and mix what's inside to make it more liquid or smooth.

Question 13

How do we get ice from an ice maker?

Accepted Answer

An ice maker takes water, freezes it into cubes, and then drops them into a container. It uses very cold temperatures to make the water solidify into ice quickly.

Question 14

What makes a computer turn on and work?

Accepted Answer

When you press the power button, electricity runs through the computer. This electricity powers parts inside that are like a brain, letting you do things like play games or write.

Question 15

How does an electric toothbrush clean teeth?

Accepted Answer

An electric toothbrush has a motor that makes the brush head move quickly. This fast movement helps remove food and germs from your teeth better than using a regular brush.

Question 16

Why does the TV screen light up?

Accepted Answer

When you turn on the TV, electricity powers it and small dots called pixels light up. These pixels change colors really fast to make pictures and videos on the screen.

Question 17

What makes an elevator go up and down?

Accepted Answer

An elevator uses a motor and a strong cable to move the car up and down. Buttons let you choose which floor to stop on, and the motor makes it move there.

Question 18

How does a printer put ink on paper?

Accepted Answer

Inside a printer, tiny jets spray ink onto paper to make words and pictures. A computer tells the printer what to print and where to spray the ink.

Question 19

Why does the doorbell ring when you press a button?

Accepted Answer

When you press a doorbell button, it completes an electrical circuit. This tells the bell or buzzer to make a sound to let someone inside know you're there.

Question 20

How does a thermostat control temperature?

Accepted Answer

A thermostat measures the temperature in the room. If it's too hot or cold, it signals the heating or cooling system to make the room comfortable again.

The Physics of Everyday Appliances - 20 FAQs Explained Simply