Household Technology And Appliances

Question 1

Factors to consider when choosing an appliance

Answer 1

Information (features)
Cost (initial, running, services)
Energy efficiency (A-G)
Cleaning/maintenance 
Guarantee
Design (fit in home, match colour)

Question 2

Categories of household appliances

Answer 2

Appliances with a motor eg food precession, blender, hoover
Appliance with a heating element eg kettle, cooker, iron
Refrigeration appliances eg fridge, freezer
Other eg microwave oven

Question 3

Working principle of a food processor

Answer 3

Electricity turns motor on
Belt and spindle turn attachments
Attachments spin at a high speed and carry pit their function eg chopping.
Safety lock stops food processor from working until lid is fully locked in position
Will also stop if lid removed

Question 4

Guidelines for using a food processor

Answer 4

Follow manufacturers guideline
Use correct attachment
Don’t overfill
If using over a long period of time, turn off at intervals to avoid it overheating

Question 5

Guidelines for caring and cleaning for food processor

Answer 5

Plug out before cleaning
Be careful when removing attachments
Wash separate. Wipe electrical bit
Store with lid off to stop odours

Question 6

Working principle of kettle

Answer 6

Switched on, electricity flows through heating element which heats up.
Heating element heats the water by convection currents, circulating water until all water is heated evenly.
Thermostat turns off electricity when water reaches 100°.
Boil dry device- kettles automatically turn off when there is insufficient water preventing fires

Question 7

Guidelines for using kettle

Answer 7

Follow manufacturers instruction
Put enough water
Don’t over fill
Allow time to cool before refilling

Question 8

Caring and cleaning kettle

Answer 8

Only boil water
Unplug before cleaning
Descale regularly
Wipe outer part using a cloth. Don’t immerse in water

Question 9

Types of fridges

Answer 9

Standard (under counter)
Larder refrigerator (taller)
Fridge freezer
American style fridge freezer

Question 10

Modern design features of fridges

Answer 10

Zoned refrigeration (section temperatures can be set)
Automatic defrost 
Humidity controlled drawers (allows natural gas off food to escape so food keeps for longer)
Ice/water dispenser

Question 11

Working principle of a refrigerator

Answer 11

Compressor contains gas refrigerant isobutene. The motor forces this gas into the condenser above

The condenser cools the gas into a liquid by condensation

The liquid is sent to the evaporator. The cooling fins release the heat generated

The evaporater turns it back to gas using only the heat in the cabinet. The gas returns to the compressor and cycle begins again.

Thermostat mainatains constant te,perathee by turning on and off motor when needed

Question 12

Function of transformer on microwave

Answer 12

Increases normal domestic voltage allowing the much higher frequency a microwave needs

Question 13

Function of magnetron in microwave

Answer 13

Converts electrical energy to microwave energy (electromagnetic energy)

Question 14

Function of wave guide in microwave

Answer 14

Distributes wave evenly in cabinet

Question 15

Working principle of microwave oven

Answer 15

Transformer increases normal domestic voltage from 230V to a much higher frequency needed for produced electromagnetic energy.

Magnetron converts electrical energy to microwave energy

Wave guide distributes waves evenly

Microwaves reflect off the metal lined cabinet and reach food

Food absorbs microwaves making it vibrate creating heat and friction

Food needs standing time when finished as parts continue to vibrate and cook