2007-02-21 20:30:42 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
It doesn't make enough difference to the kettle's efficiency for it to be a technical reason. I'd agree with the aesthetics. Original kettles were metal to sit on a stove top, metal being a conductor. Then we went electric and plastic's cheap, so we switched to plastic. And then, fashion came along and a chrome effect is, like, sooo this year... I wonder what'll be next?
So, fashion's to blame. Either that, or the kettle company's are going for a hefty (but lucrative) market share of the magpie population.
2007-02-22 05:08:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shiny polished metal surfaces have a low emissivity. That means they loose heat by radiation slowly. That's good for keeping the kettle from cooling off too fast. You want the bottom to be dark, though, since shiny surfaces absorb radiated heat inefficiently too. That said, it's really a marginal effect in practice since most of the heat from a kettle is lost by convection and evaporative cooling anyway. It does make the kettle pretty, though.
2007-02-22 15:39:45 · answer #2 · answered by Dr. R 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Probably for aesthetic purposes, people are attracted to shiny things and hence more likely to buy.
The energy inferences are hardly relevant as most kettles are boiled to supply water for immediate use.
2007-02-21 22:36:05 · answer #3 · answered by norm c 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they do no longer seem for use. Why? rather won't be able to tell you. maximum human beings here drink coffee somewhat than tea so as that they've coffee pots, electric and use the tea kettle for tea. i exploit my tea kettle for coffee as i like my water boiling! you're able to understand we've adequate electric kitchen instruments taking over too lots counter area already. yet i think of the main reason being coffee is the popular drink and we use the coffee pot for that. as properly what you notice on television is probable a fictional coach and the set clothier throws the pot on the range for layout motives.
2016-11-24 23:29:28 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They have to be made from a stainless material to pass U.S. regulators' requirements anyway. So why not give them a buff that costs far less than the kind of silicone-based paint that can survive the high temperature of the coils?
2007-02-21 22:58:19 · answer #5 · answered by sciquest 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they look better and are easily cleaned.
2007-02-22 08:42:28 · answer #6 · answered by mad_jim 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋