The heating element

The idea

Electric heating appliances work on the heating effect of current: each contains a rod or coil of wire, called a heating element, which is heated by the current and may glow red hot.

Inside a room heater

A room heater, an electric kettle and an electric iron all get hot. In a room heater you can see a part glowing red.

What do you think the glowing part is?

• A rod or coil of wire heated by the current
• A tiny candle
• A piece of ice

Sort the appliances

Tap the bin where each appliance belongs.

A coil that heats

Room heaters, stoves, kettles, irons and immersion rods all work on the heating effect. Each one has a rod or coil of wire inside. The current heats it. Where you can see it, it glows red hot.

Appliances that work on the heating effect contain a rod or coil of wire called a heating element. The current heats it, and it may glow red hot.

Notes

A heating element is a rod or coil of wire in an appliance. The current heats it, and it may glow red hot.

Check yourself

The rod or coil of wire inside a heating appliance is called …

Which of these works on the heating effect of current?

In some appliances the heating element can be seen glowing …

What heats a heating element?

• a heating element — correct. Yes!
• a magnet. A magnet is something else. The heated rod or coil is the heating element.
• a switch. A switch turns the current ON and OFF. The heated part is the heating element.
• An electric bell. A bell uses the magnetic effect of current.
• An electric kettle — correct. Yes!
• A lifting electromagnet. It uses the magnetic effect of current.
• freezing cold. The current heats the element, so it is hot.
• transparent. A heating element that is visible glows red hot.
• red hot — correct. Yes!
• The electric current through it — correct. Yes!
• The Sun. The current through the element heats it.
• A small flame. There is no flame. The current heats it.