travel_exploreDiscovery · Around the home

🏠 Around the home

How does a fridge stay cold? Simple, true around the home facts for young children, each with a fun fact, a tiny activity and a question to talk about together.

Tap a question to reveal the answer, share the fun fact, try the tiny activity, then talk about it together.

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How does a fridge stay cold? Revealexpand_more

A fridge does not make cold, it takes heat away. A special liquid flows through pipes inside and behind the fridge, soaking up warmth from the food and carrying it outside. That is why the back of a fridge feels warm while the inside stays cool.

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Talk about itWhat food do you like to keep nice and cold?

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Did you know?The warm air a fridge pushes out is the heat it just took from your food.

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Try itFeel the back or bottom of a fridge, asking a grown-up first. The warmth there came from inside.

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🏠💡How does a light turn on when you flip a switch?🕰️How does a clock know the time?🔑How does a key open a lock?

🤖Still curious?Why does the fridge light turn off when you close the door?arrow_forward

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How does a light turn on when you flip a switch? Revealexpand_more

Flipping a switch is like opening or closing a tiny gate for electricity. When the switch is on, it lets electricity flow through wires into the bulb, and the bulb glows. When you switch it off, the gate opens and stops the flow, so the light goes out.

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Talk about itHow many switches can you find in your home?

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Did you know?The electricity in your wall travels almost as fast as light itself.

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Try itFlip a light switch on and off and notice how quickly the light answers. The electricity gets there in a flash.

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🏠❄️How does a fridge stay cold?🕰️How does a clock know the time?🧲Why do magnets stick?

🤖Still curious?Where does the electricity in your home come from?arrow_forward

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How does a key open a lock? Revealexpand_more

A key has a special pattern of bumps along its edge that matches one exact lock. When you slide the right key in, its bumps push tiny pins inside the lock to just the right heights. Once every pin lines up, the lock is free to turn and the door opens.

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Talk about itWhat is something special you like to keep safe?

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Did you know?Because each key pattern is different, your key will not open your neighbour's door.

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Try itLook closely at a key and trace its bumpy edge. That shape is a secret code only its lock understands.

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🏠🕰️How does a clock know the time?❄️How does a fridge stay cold?🧲Why do magnets stick?

🤖Still curious?How do locks that open with a code or fingerprint work?arrow_forward

schedule2 minstarEasygroupTogether

How does a clock know the time? Revealexpand_more

A clock keeps time by counting something that happens at a perfectly steady beat. Old clocks count the swings of a swinging weight, while most clocks today count the tiny, super-fast buzzes of a special crystal. Each steady beat moves the hands or numbers along, one tick at a time.

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Talk about itHow do you know when it is time for your favourite part of the day?

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Did you know?Some clocks are so exact they would lose barely a second in a thousand years.

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Try itSwing a small weight on a string and count its steady swings. That even rhythm is how old clocks kept time.

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🏠💡How does a light turn on when you flip a switch?🔑How does a key open a lock?❄️How does a fridge stay cold?

🤖Still curious?How did people tell the time before there were clocks?arrow_forward

🏠 Around the home

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