Refrigerator

High school (ages 12+)
Everyday Life

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/refrigerator

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the thermodynamic principle?Vapor-compression refrigeration cycle, involving evaporation, compression, condensation, and expansion
2. What is the societal impact?Revolutionized food safety, dietary habits, and the global food supply chain
3. What is a refrigerator and how does it keep food cold?A refrigerator is a box that keeps food super cold by using a special cycle. It has parts called the evaporator, compressor, condenser, and expansion valve that work together to move heat out of the fridge and keep the inside cool.
4. Why did people use ice boxes before refrigerators?Before electric refrigerators, people stored food in cool places like cellars or caves. Later, they used natural ice that was cut from lakes, kept in ice houses, and put in insulated boxes to keep food cold.

Vapor-Compression Cycle: A thermodynamic process using a refrigerant to transfer heat from a cold space to a warmer one.
Refrigerant: A working fluid that undergoes phase changes to absorb and release heat, enabling cooling.
Global Warming Potential (GWP): A measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide.