How does an electric toaster cook toast?

Question

My sons science teacher told him it was through infra red; but I thought that was a light wave outside of the visible spectrum. What is the correct answer?
By the way, this is the teacher getting him through his g.c.s.e's...

No, I meant is it convection or whatever?

Thanks for your answers; you're all patient people!

Answer 1

The filaments in your toaster are made of high resistance metal alloy, and when electricity is applied the poor conducting alloy heats to a glowing red-orange. Thermal infrared radiation heats the bread and caremlizes the sugars producing toast.

To answer your second question, the visible light spectrum covers 400-700 nanometer wavelengths. The infrared spectrum, while still considered light, spans from 700-13000 nanometers. You are both correct.

Answer 2

electricity passes through a thin wire of high resistance. this causes some of the electrical energy to be given out as heat. i wouldn't suspect there to be very much energy dissipated through infa red radiation however it would play a part. most energy will be lost as heat which reaches the toast through convection currents in the air i think.

infa red is in the electromagnetic spectrum and is below visible light (i.e. it has a lower frequency) however to say that it is a light wave i feel is wrong. what is closer to the mark is that light is an electromagnetic wave as is infa red.

and on the subject of teacher i had shocking physics teachers last year for my GCSE's and i did alright and now I'm at college doing fine in the sciences so don't worry.

Answer 3

The heat transfer in a toaster is mostly by radiant heat, although convection plays some role. Energy is transferred from the heating elements to the bread by infrared radiation, which is electromagnetic radiation of a longer wavelength than red light.

Answer 4

The bread is toasted by radiated Infrared heat from the electrical elements.

Infrared is a band in the electromagnetic radiation spectrum.

Hope that helps.

Answer 5

The electricity passes through the too-thin wire filament of the heating element, and heat is radiated out. Thankfully, we don't get the really nasty wavelengths of radiation, such as X-rays, which would do us in after just a few month's breakfasts.

Answer 6

particular, you're able to do it. positioned it decrease than the broiler. (pass away the oven door open once you broil, and watch it heavily.) It takes awhile to warmth up, although. you could desire to be greater beneficial off procuring a toaster oven to your room. they are incredibly less expensive and you ought to use them to make stuff different than toast.

Answer 7

With electricity!

Answer 8

radiant heat.

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