How do fridges keep things cool?

Refrigerators use a simple cycle of compression and expansion to cool food. This process is powered by an electric motor that drives a compressor. Here's a step-by-step explanation of how a fridge works:

1. Compression: The compressor compresses a refrigerant gas, which increases its pressure and temperature.

2. Condensation: The compressed gas then passes through a condenser, where it is cooled down by a fan or by the ambient air. This causes the gas to condense into a liquid.

3. Expansion: The liquid refrigerant flows into an expansion valve, which allows it to expand into a low-pressure area. This causes the liquid to rapidly vaporize, absorbing heat in the process.

4. Evaporation: The refrigerant gas then passes through an evaporator, where it absorbs heat from the inside of the fridge. This causes the gas to cool down and turn back into a liquid.

5. Repeat: The process then repeats itself, with the compressor compressing the gas and the condenser cooling it down, and so on.

The cooling effect in the fridge is created by the evaporation process. As the liquid refrigerant absorbs heat from the inside of the fridge, it causes the temperature to drop and keep food cool. The compressor and other components of the fridge are responsible for maintaining this cycle and ensuring that the temperature inside the fridge remains at the desired setting.