Question 1

How does a toaster work?

Accepted Answer

A toaster uses electricity to heat up wires inside it. The wires get hot and make the bread crispy and warm.

Question 2

Why do phones have touchscreens?

Accepted Answer

Touchscreens let us control the phone by touching it with our fingers. The screen senses where your finger is and tells the phone what to do.

Question 3

What makes a light bulb light up?

Accepted Answer

When you turn on a light, electricity flows through a tiny wire inside the bulb. The wire gets so hot that it glows and makes light.

Question 4

How does a microwave heat food?

Accepted Answer

A microwave uses special waves to make the water molecules in food move fast. The fast-moving molecules make the food hot.

Question 5

Why does a fan make you feel cooler?

Accepted Answer

A fan blows air on your skin, helping sweat evaporate. This makes you feel cooler because it takes heat away from your body.

Question 6

How does a calculator do math?

Accepted Answer

A calculator has tiny circuits inside that can do math really quickly. When you press a button, it uses these circuits to give you the answer.

Question 7

What makes a doorbell ring?

Accepted Answer

When you press the doorbell button, it closes a circuit that lets electricity flow to a small bell or speaker. This makes a ringing sound.

Question 8

How does a refrigerator keep food cold?

Accepted Answer

A refrigerator uses a special liquid that turns into gas to take heat away from the food inside. This keeps everything nice and cool.

Question 9

Why does a TV show pictures and sound?

Accepted Answer

A TV receives signals that tell it how to show pictures and play sounds. It then turns these signals into images you see and sounds you hear.

Question 10

How do headphones make sound?

Accepted Answer

Headphones have small speakers that vibrate to make sound waves. These waves travel to your ears, letting you hear music or voices.

Question 11

What makes a car move?

Accepted Answer

In most cars, a machine called an engine burns fuel to create energy. This energy turns wheels to move the car.

Question 12

How does a remote control work?

Accepted Answer

A remote control sends invisible signals to a device like a TV. The device understands these signals and does what the remote says.

Question 13

Why can a compass point north?

Accepted Answer

A compass has a tiny magnet that turns freely. Earth's magnetic field pulls the magnet, always making it point north.

Question 14

How does a water faucet work?

Accepted Answer

A faucet opens and closes a valve to let water flow. When you turn the handle, the valve opens, and water comes out.

Question 15

What makes an elevator go up and down?

Accepted Answer

An elevator uses a motor and strong cables to move. The motor pulls the elevator up or lets it down smoothly.

Question 16

Why do clocks have batteries?

Accepted Answer

Batteries give clocks the power they need to keep ticking. Without batteries, many clocks would stop working.

Question 17

How does a smoke alarm work?

Accepted Answer

A smoke alarm uses sensors to detect smoke in the air. If it senses smoke, it makes a loud sound to warn you about a fire.

Question 18

What makes a washing machine clean clothes?

Accepted Answer

A washing machine swirls clothes around in soapy water and rinses them. The spinning and soapy water help remove dirt.

Question 19

How does a vacuum cleaner pick up dirt?

Accepted Answer

A vacuum cleaner uses a motor to create suction. This suction pulls dirt and dust into the vacuum, cleaning your floors.

Question 20

Why does a camera take pictures?

Accepted Answer

A camera lets light in and captures an image on special film or a sensor. This image is saved so you can see it later.

The Science of Everyday Gadgets - 20 FAQs Explained Simply