Ask Fuzzy: How does an induction cooker work?
You can usually tell whether a device is inefficient by the amount of wasted heat.
An obvious example is the internal combustion engine which burns more than half its fuel doing nothing more than getting hot.
The best that most cars can manage is about 20-40 per cent efficiency. That means 60-80 per cent is wasted. Great if you want to cook sausages, but it doesn't you get anywhere.
Televisions, computers and power charges all get warm to varying degrees and, in each case, that means wasted energy.
Then there are kitchen stoves such as gas and those with old-style heater elements. They certainly get hot but, as with cars, much of that goes into heating itself and the air around it without doing any useful work.
A good indicator that induction cooktops are highly efficient (about 84 per cent) is that the "hot plates" are often cool enough to touch (carefully) shortly after they finish cooking.
The history of electromagnetic induction goes back to 1820 when Danish physicist Hans Christian Oersted discovered that an electric current generates a magnetic field.
Then in 1821 English physicist Michael Faraday made a primitive electric motor by placing a magnet near a piece of wire. When he fed an electric current into the wire, it generated a magnetic field, pushing itself away from the permanent magnet.
In 1831, he flipped the idea around by rotating a coil of wire through a magnetic field to induce an electric current, thus inventing the electricity generator.
MORE ASK FUZZY:
Now we see induction used in electric toothbrushes cradles and wireless phone chargers.
As the name implies, induction stoves work on the same principle.
An alternating current running through the tightly wound metal coil inside a cooking zone induces a high-frequency alternating magnetic field.
That produces whirling electrical currents inside the pan. The repeated magnetising and demagnetising (magnetic hysteresis) turns it into a heater.
The beauty of this is that it heats the pan directly instead of an element and the air around it. If there's no pan on the cooking zone, the cooking zone stays cold.
Although your home power supply alternates at 50Hz, an induction cooktop is 20-40kHz, which is 500 to 1000 times faster.
That offers a couple of advantages. One is that being above the range of hearing, stops any annoying buzzing.
The other is that it prevents your pots from dancing around on the cooktop.
The Fuzzy Logic Science Show is at 11am Sundays on 2xx 98.3FM.
Send your questions to AskFuzzy@Zoho.com; Podcast: FuzzyLogicOn2xx.Podbean.com
You can usually tell whether a device is inefficient by the amount of wasted heat.
An obvious example is the internal combustion engine which burns more than half its fuel doing nothing more than getting hot.
The best that most cars can manage is about 20-40 per cent efficiency. That means 60-80 per cent is wasted. Great if you want to cook sausages, but it doesn't you get anywhere.
Televisions, computers and power charges all get warm to varying degrees and, in each case, that means wasted energy.
Then there are kitchen stoves such as gas and those with old-style heater elements. They certainly get hot but, as with cars, much of that goes into heating itself and the air around it without doing any useful work.
A good indicator that induction cooktops are highly efficient (about 84 per cent) is that the "hot plates" are often cool enough to touch (carefully) shortly after they finish cooking.
The history of electromagnetic induction goes back to 1820 when Danish physicist Hans Christian Oersted discovered that an electric current generates a magnetic field.
Then in 1821 English physicist Michael Faraday made a primitive electric motor by placing a magnet near a piece of wire. When he fed an electric current into the wire, it generated a magnetic field, pushing itself away from the permanent magnet.
In 1831, he flipped the idea around by rotating a coil of wire through a magnetic field to induce an electric current, thus inventing the electricity generator.
MORE ASK FUZZY:
Now we see induction used in electric toothbrushes cradles and wireless phone chargers.
As the name implies, induction stoves work on the same principle.
An alternating current running through the tightly wound metal coil inside a cooking zone induces a high-frequency alternating magnetic field.
That produces whirling electrical currents inside the pan. The repeated magnetising and demagnetising (magnetic hysteresis) turns it into a heater.
The beauty of this is that it heats the pan directly instead of an element and the air around it. If there's no pan on the cooking zone, the cooking zone stays cold.
Although your home power supply alternates at 50Hz, an induction cooktop is 20-40kHz, which is 500 to 1000 times faster.
That offers a couple of advantages. One is that being above the range of hearing, stops any annoying buzzing.
The other is that it prevents your pots from dancing around on the cooktop.
The Fuzzy Logic Science Show is at 11am Sundays on 2xx 98.3FM.
Send your questions to AskFuzzy@Zoho.com; Podcast: FuzzyLogicOn2xx.Podbean.com
You can usually tell whether a device is inefficient by the amount of wasted heat.
An obvious example is the internal combustion engine which burns more than half its fuel doing nothing more than getting hot.
The best that most cars can manage is about 20-40 per cent efficiency. That means 60-80 per cent is wasted. Great if you want to cook sausages, but it doesn't you get anywhere.
Televisions, computers and power charges all get warm to varying degrees and, in each case, that means wasted energy.
Then there are kitchen stoves such as gas and those with old-style heater elements. They certainly get hot but, as with cars, much of that goes into heating itself and the air around it without doing any useful work.
A good indicator that induction cooktops are highly efficient (about 84 per cent) is that the "hot plates" are often cool enough to touch (carefully) shortly after they finish cooking.
The history of electromagnetic induction goes back to 1820 when Danish physicist Hans Christian Oersted discovered that an electric current generates a magnetic field.
Then in 1821 English physicist Michael Faraday made a primitive electric motor by placing a magnet near a piece of wire. When he fed an electric current into the wire, it generated a magnetic field, pushing itself away from the permanent magnet.
In 1831, he flipped the idea around by rotating a coil of wire through a magnetic field to induce an electric current, thus inventing the electricity generator.
MORE ASK FUZZY:
Now we see induction used in electric toothbrushes cradles and wireless phone chargers.
As the name implies, induction stoves work on the same principle.
An alternating current running through the tightly wound metal coil inside a cooking zone induces a high-frequency alternating magnetic field.
That produces whirling electrical currents inside the pan. The repeated magnetising and demagnetising (magnetic hysteresis) turns it into a heater.
The beauty of this is that it heats the pan directly instead of an element and the air around it. If there's no pan on the cooking zone, the cooking zone stays cold.
Although your home power supply alternates at 50Hz, an induction cooktop is 20-40kHz, which is 500 to 1000 times faster.
That offers a couple of advantages. One is that being above the range of hearing, stops any annoying buzzing.
The other is that it prevents your pots from dancing around on the cooktop.
The Fuzzy Logic Science Show is at 11am Sundays on 2xx 98.3FM.
Send your questions to AskFuzzy@Zoho.com; Podcast: FuzzyLogicOn2xx.Podbean.com
You can usually tell whether a device is inefficient by the amount of wasted heat.
An obvious example is the internal combustion engine which burns more than half its fuel doing nothing more than getting hot.
The best that most cars can manage is about 20-40 per cent efficiency. That means 60-80 per cent is wasted. Great if you want to cook sausages, but it doesn't you get anywhere.
Televisions, computers and power charges all get warm to varying degrees and, in each case, that means wasted energy.
Then there are kitchen stoves such as gas and those with old-style heater elements. They certainly get hot but, as with cars, much of that goes into heating itself and the air around it without doing any useful work.
A good indicator that induction cooktops are highly efficient (about 84 per cent) is that the "hot plates" are often cool enough to touch (carefully) shortly after they finish cooking.
The history of electromagnetic induction goes back to 1820 when Danish physicist Hans Christian Oersted discovered that an electric current generates a magnetic field.
Then in 1821 English physicist Michael Faraday made a primitive electric motor by placing a magnet near a piece of wire. When he fed an electric current into the wire, it generated a magnetic field, pushing itself away from the permanent magnet.
In 1831, he flipped the idea around by rotating a coil of wire through a magnetic field to induce an electric current, thus inventing the electricity generator.
MORE ASK FUZZY:
Now we see induction used in electric toothbrushes cradles and wireless phone chargers.
As the name implies, induction stoves work on the same principle.
An alternating current running through the tightly wound metal coil inside a cooking zone induces a high-frequency alternating magnetic field.
That produces whirling electrical currents inside the pan. The repeated magnetising and demagnetising (magnetic hysteresis) turns it into a heater.
The beauty of this is that it heats the pan directly instead of an element and the air around it. If there's no pan on the cooking zone, the cooking zone stays cold.
Although your home power supply alternates at 50Hz, an induction cooktop is 20-40kHz, which is 500 to 1000 times faster.
That offers a couple of advantages. One is that being above the range of hearing, stops any annoying buzzing.
The other is that it prevents your pots from dancing around on the cooktop.
The Fuzzy Logic Science Show is at 11am Sundays on 2xx 98.3FM.
Send your questions to AskFuzzy@Zoho.com; Podcast: FuzzyLogicOn2xx.Podbean.com
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The Advertiser
4 days ago
- The Advertiser
Soccer headers alter brains, adding to dementia fears
Heading a soccer ball alters brain chemistry, but more studies are needed to prove if the activity can be clearly linked to dementia, researchers have found. World-leading research driven by Sydney University showed "subtle but measurable" effects when players headed a ball 20 times in as many minutes. They also found elevated levels of two proteins considered biomarkers of brain injury and future dementia risk. Although the effects were far smaller than in conditions such as dementia, study co-author Danielle McCartney said the findings were enough to prompt further thought about what damage the activity was doing to brains. "Our research adds to a growing body of work suggesting that non-concussive impacts like soccer heading do have subtle effects on the brain," she told AAP. "But the clinical and long-term significance of these effects require further study." The study involved adult male soccer players repeatedly heading a ball before brain assessments were performed using MRI facilities, while blood and cognitive-function testing was also carried out. Results were compared with when participants kicked the ball instead. It was the first randomised controlled trial measuring the impact of heading through MRI scans. While no cognitive impairment was found, the effects were viewed as enough to suggest players should limit how often they head a ball. "Our findings do indicate we need to exercise caution when it comes to heading, and probably be looking for opportunities to limit exposure," Dr McCartney said. "Our research would probably suggest extensive heading during training sessions, for example, is not advisable." International studies have found footballers are more likely to develop dementia than the rest of the population, while others have shown that goalkeepers, who do not often head the ball, are less likely to suffer brain disease than outfield players. Former journeyman English footballer Dean Windass has been public with his stage-two dementia battle, with the 56-year-old revealing a consultant told him a career of heading the ball was likely to have contributed to his diagnosis. Governing bodies in some countries have banned heading in training among junior ranks, including in England, where it is not permitted until a limited amount at the under-12 level. At the professional ranks, the English Premier League recommends players only head the ball 10 times at one training session per week. Football Australia recently appointed an expert team, including their chief medical officer, to consider recommendations around heading. "The project team will consider a Football Australia expert working group's suggestions on strategies to reduce the incidence, magnitude and burden of heading in youth football commencing with a comprehensive literature review," a spokesman told AAP. The governing body does not yet have guidelines on heading at the youth level, but the spokesman said gameplay tweaks - including a smaller field, no throw-ins and a requirement for goalkeepers to roll or throw the ball - reduced heading. Heading a soccer ball alters brain chemistry, but more studies are needed to prove if the activity can be clearly linked to dementia, researchers have found. World-leading research driven by Sydney University showed "subtle but measurable" effects when players headed a ball 20 times in as many minutes. They also found elevated levels of two proteins considered biomarkers of brain injury and future dementia risk. Although the effects were far smaller than in conditions such as dementia, study co-author Danielle McCartney said the findings were enough to prompt further thought about what damage the activity was doing to brains. "Our research adds to a growing body of work suggesting that non-concussive impacts like soccer heading do have subtle effects on the brain," she told AAP. "But the clinical and long-term significance of these effects require further study." The study involved adult male soccer players repeatedly heading a ball before brain assessments were performed using MRI facilities, while blood and cognitive-function testing was also carried out. Results were compared with when participants kicked the ball instead. It was the first randomised controlled trial measuring the impact of heading through MRI scans. While no cognitive impairment was found, the effects were viewed as enough to suggest players should limit how often they head a ball. "Our findings do indicate we need to exercise caution when it comes to heading, and probably be looking for opportunities to limit exposure," Dr McCartney said. "Our research would probably suggest extensive heading during training sessions, for example, is not advisable." International studies have found footballers are more likely to develop dementia than the rest of the population, while others have shown that goalkeepers, who do not often head the ball, are less likely to suffer brain disease than outfield players. Former journeyman English footballer Dean Windass has been public with his stage-two dementia battle, with the 56-year-old revealing a consultant told him a career of heading the ball was likely to have contributed to his diagnosis. Governing bodies in some countries have banned heading in training among junior ranks, including in England, where it is not permitted until a limited amount at the under-12 level. At the professional ranks, the English Premier League recommends players only head the ball 10 times at one training session per week. Football Australia recently appointed an expert team, including their chief medical officer, to consider recommendations around heading. "The project team will consider a Football Australia expert working group's suggestions on strategies to reduce the incidence, magnitude and burden of heading in youth football commencing with a comprehensive literature review," a spokesman told AAP. The governing body does not yet have guidelines on heading at the youth level, but the spokesman said gameplay tweaks - including a smaller field, no throw-ins and a requirement for goalkeepers to roll or throw the ball - reduced heading. Heading a soccer ball alters brain chemistry, but more studies are needed to prove if the activity can be clearly linked to dementia, researchers have found. World-leading research driven by Sydney University showed "subtle but measurable" effects when players headed a ball 20 times in as many minutes. They also found elevated levels of two proteins considered biomarkers of brain injury and future dementia risk. Although the effects were far smaller than in conditions such as dementia, study co-author Danielle McCartney said the findings were enough to prompt further thought about what damage the activity was doing to brains. "Our research adds to a growing body of work suggesting that non-concussive impacts like soccer heading do have subtle effects on the brain," she told AAP. "But the clinical and long-term significance of these effects require further study." The study involved adult male soccer players repeatedly heading a ball before brain assessments were performed using MRI facilities, while blood and cognitive-function testing was also carried out. Results were compared with when participants kicked the ball instead. It was the first randomised controlled trial measuring the impact of heading through MRI scans. While no cognitive impairment was found, the effects were viewed as enough to suggest players should limit how often they head a ball. "Our findings do indicate we need to exercise caution when it comes to heading, and probably be looking for opportunities to limit exposure," Dr McCartney said. "Our research would probably suggest extensive heading during training sessions, for example, is not advisable." International studies have found footballers are more likely to develop dementia than the rest of the population, while others have shown that goalkeepers, who do not often head the ball, are less likely to suffer brain disease than outfield players. Former journeyman English footballer Dean Windass has been public with his stage-two dementia battle, with the 56-year-old revealing a consultant told him a career of heading the ball was likely to have contributed to his diagnosis. Governing bodies in some countries have banned heading in training among junior ranks, including in England, where it is not permitted until a limited amount at the under-12 level. At the professional ranks, the English Premier League recommends players only head the ball 10 times at one training session per week. Football Australia recently appointed an expert team, including their chief medical officer, to consider recommendations around heading. "The project team will consider a Football Australia expert working group's suggestions on strategies to reduce the incidence, magnitude and burden of heading in youth football commencing with a comprehensive literature review," a spokesman told AAP. The governing body does not yet have guidelines on heading at the youth level, but the spokesman said gameplay tweaks - including a smaller field, no throw-ins and a requirement for goalkeepers to roll or throw the ball - reduced heading. Heading a soccer ball alters brain chemistry, but more studies are needed to prove if the activity can be clearly linked to dementia, researchers have found. World-leading research driven by Sydney University showed "subtle but measurable" effects when players headed a ball 20 times in as many minutes. They also found elevated levels of two proteins considered biomarkers of brain injury and future dementia risk. Although the effects were far smaller than in conditions such as dementia, study co-author Danielle McCartney said the findings were enough to prompt further thought about what damage the activity was doing to brains. "Our research adds to a growing body of work suggesting that non-concussive impacts like soccer heading do have subtle effects on the brain," she told AAP. "But the clinical and long-term significance of these effects require further study." The study involved adult male soccer players repeatedly heading a ball before brain assessments were performed using MRI facilities, while blood and cognitive-function testing was also carried out. Results were compared with when participants kicked the ball instead. It was the first randomised controlled trial measuring the impact of heading through MRI scans. While no cognitive impairment was found, the effects were viewed as enough to suggest players should limit how often they head a ball. "Our findings do indicate we need to exercise caution when it comes to heading, and probably be looking for opportunities to limit exposure," Dr McCartney said. "Our research would probably suggest extensive heading during training sessions, for example, is not advisable." International studies have found footballers are more likely to develop dementia than the rest of the population, while others have shown that goalkeepers, who do not often head the ball, are less likely to suffer brain disease than outfield players. Former journeyman English footballer Dean Windass has been public with his stage-two dementia battle, with the 56-year-old revealing a consultant told him a career of heading the ball was likely to have contributed to his diagnosis. Governing bodies in some countries have banned heading in training among junior ranks, including in England, where it is not permitted until a limited amount at the under-12 level. At the professional ranks, the English Premier League recommends players only head the ball 10 times at one training session per week. Football Australia recently appointed an expert team, including their chief medical officer, to consider recommendations around heading. "The project team will consider a Football Australia expert working group's suggestions on strategies to reduce the incidence, magnitude and burden of heading in youth football commencing with a comprehensive literature review," a spokesman told AAP. The governing body does not yet have guidelines on heading at the youth level, but the spokesman said gameplay tweaks - including a smaller field, no throw-ins and a requirement for goalkeepers to roll or throw the ball - reduced heading.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Perth Now
Soccer headers alter brains, adding to dementia fears
Heading a soccer ball alters brain chemistry, but more studies are needed to prove if the activity can be clearly linked to dementia, researchers have found. World-leading research driven by Sydney University showed "subtle but measurable" effects when players headed a ball 20 times in as many minutes. They also found elevated levels of two proteins considered biomarkers of brain injury and future dementia risk. Although the effects were far smaller than in conditions such as dementia, study co-author Danielle McCartney said the findings were enough to prompt further thought about what damage the activity was doing to brains. "Our research adds to a growing body of work suggesting that non-concussive impacts like soccer heading do have subtle effects on the brain," she told AAP. "But the clinical and long-term significance of these effects require further study." The study involved adult male soccer players repeatedly heading a ball before brain assessments were performed using MRI facilities, while blood and cognitive-function testing was also carried out. Results were compared with when participants kicked the ball instead. It was the first randomised controlled trial measuring the impact of heading through MRI scans. While no cognitive impairment was found, the effects were viewed as enough to suggest players should limit how often they head a ball. "Our findings do indicate we need to exercise caution when it comes to heading, and probably be looking for opportunities to limit exposure," Dr McCartney said. "Our research would probably suggest extensive heading during training sessions, for example, is not advisable." International studies have found footballers are more likely to develop dementia than the rest of the population, while others have shown that goalkeepers, who do not often head the ball, are less likely to suffer brain disease than outfield players. Former journeyman English footballer Dean Windass has been public with his stage-two dementia battle, with the 56-year-old revealing a consultant told him a career of heading the ball was likely to have contributed to his diagnosis. Governing bodies in some countries have banned heading in training among junior ranks, including in England, where it is not permitted until a limited amount at the under-12 level. At the professional ranks, the English Premier League recommends players only head the ball 10 times at one training session per week. Football Australia recently appointed an expert team, including their chief medical officer, to consider recommendations around heading. "The project team will consider a Football Australia expert working group's suggestions on strategies to reduce the incidence, magnitude and burden of heading in youth football commencing with a comprehensive literature review," a spokesman told AAP. The governing body does not yet have guidelines on heading at the youth level, but the spokesman said gameplay tweaks - including a smaller field, no throw-ins and a requirement for goalkeepers to roll or throw the ball - reduced heading.
West Australian
4 days ago
- West Australian
Soccer headers alter brains, adding to dementia fears
Heading a soccer ball alters brain chemistry, but more studies are needed to prove if the activity can be clearly linked to dementia, researchers have found. World-leading research driven by Sydney University showed "subtle but measurable" effects when players headed a ball 20 times in as many minutes. They also found elevated levels of two proteins considered biomarkers of brain injury and future dementia risk. Although the effects were far smaller than in conditions such as dementia, study co-author Danielle McCartney said the findings were enough to prompt further thought about what damage the activity was doing to brains. "Our research adds to a growing body of work suggesting that non-concussive impacts like soccer heading do have subtle effects on the brain," she told AAP. "But the clinical and long-term significance of these effects require further study." The study involved adult male soccer players repeatedly heading a ball before brain assessments were performed using MRI facilities, while blood and cognitive-function testing was also carried out. Results were compared with when participants kicked the ball instead. It was the first randomised controlled trial measuring the impact of heading through MRI scans. While no cognitive impairment was found, the effects were viewed as enough to suggest players should limit how often they head a ball. "Our findings do indicate we need to exercise caution when it comes to heading, and probably be looking for opportunities to limit exposure," Dr McCartney said. "Our research would probably suggest extensive heading during training sessions, for example, is not advisable." International studies have found footballers are more likely to develop dementia than the rest of the population, while others have shown that goalkeepers, who do not often head the ball, are less likely to suffer brain disease than outfield players. Former journeyman English footballer Dean Windass has been public with his stage-two dementia battle, with the 56-year-old revealing a consultant told him a career of heading the ball was likely to have contributed to his diagnosis. Governing bodies in some countries have banned heading in training among junior ranks, including in England, where it is not permitted until a limited amount at the under-12 level. At the professional ranks, the English Premier League recommends players only head the ball 10 times at one training session per week. Football Australia recently appointed an expert team, including their chief medical officer, to consider recommendations around heading. "The project team will consider a Football Australia expert working group's suggestions on strategies to reduce the incidence, magnitude and burden of heading in youth football commencing with a comprehensive literature review," a spokesman told AAP. The governing body does not yet have guidelines on heading at the youth level, but the spokesman said gameplay tweaks - including a smaller field, no throw-ins and a requirement for goalkeepers to roll or throw the ball - reduced heading.
