An electric kettle is a common household appliance used to quickly boil water. It works on a simple principle involving electricity and heating elements. The basic working principle of an electric kettle relies on converting electrical energy into heat energy to raise the temperature of water.
Inside the kettle, there is a metal coil or a heating element, typically made of stainless steel or copper, located at the bottom. When you plug in the kettle and turn it on, electricity flows through the heating element. As electricity passes through the coil, it faces resistance, and this resistance causes the element to heat up.
The heating element then transfers its heat to the water in the kettle. Since water has a high heat capacity, it absorbs the heat and starts to rise in temperature. The temperature of the water continues to increase until it reaches the boiling point (100°C or 212°F at sea level).
Once the water begins to boil, a built-in thermostat or thermal switch inside the kettle detects the rise in temperature. The thermostat is set to turn off the heating element automatically when the water reaches its boiling point. This prevents the kettle from overheating and ensures energy is not wasted.
Some electric kettles also have additional features like an automatic shut-off when the water is done boiling, a boil-dry protection mechanism, and an indicator light that shows when the kettle is turned on.
In summary, the working principle of an electric kettle involves using electrical energy to heat a metal element inside the kettle. This heat is transferred to the water, raising its temperature until it boils. Once the water is boiled, the kettle automatically turns off to prevent overheating and conserve energy.