Why is a freezer usually located at the top sectiion of the refrigerator?

Question

this is for a science assignment- we are supposed to apply heat transfer principles such as conduction, convection and radiation. I'll choose the best answer. PLEASE HELP!!!!

Answer 1

The freezer and refrigerator sections were originally connected by a tube when refrigerators were first made. Cold air settles and hot air rises, and the freezers were heavily insulated, so this kept the freezer cold and provided the refrigerated section with cold air circulating with warmer air. The two sections aren't connected like that today and haven't been for awhile, but the style tends to stay the same.

Answer 2

As others have said the ice boxes had the ice at the top so the cold air would flow downward to cool the items at the bottom of the box. This principle is still used in modern refrigerators although the ice is replaced with the evaporator coils and the convection proscess is enhanced by the use of the evaporator fan which circulates the cold air throughout the entire unit. The warmer air is drawn up and blown across the cold evaporator coils which absorb the heat from the air and the heat is conducted to the condenser coils. The cooled air is then radiated through openings into the freezer compartment and the fresh food compartment and through convection freezes and cools the food and the proscess is repeated.

With the freezer on top it is easier for the cold air to flow down and the warmer air to rise in a more natural way with less energy to assist the flow.

Answer 3

It's a throwback to original fridge design. The upper door was opened to allow a large block of ice to cool the lower chamber of the refridgerator.

Hot air rises is cooled and descends again. Repeat.
This was mostly a convection process.

In todays refridgerators we no longer need to use large blocks of ice so the frozen section is insulated from the fridge section. This has obviated the original design need leading to freezers on the side instead of above in many cases.

Answer 4

cold air falls, heat rises

Answer 5

hmmm dont know.