heating element

A heating element is the part of an electrical appliance that changes electrical energy into heat.

• It is usually a coil or rod of high-resistance wire, commonly made from an alloy called nichrome.
• Nichrome resists the flow of electric current more than metals such as copper. This resistance makes the wire become very hot when current passes through it.
• The element is often shaped into a coil so that a long length of wire can fit into a small space, like a tightly coiled spring.
• In an electric iron, kettle, toaster, or room heater, the heating element transfers heat to the water, air, or metal surface around it.
• It may glow red or orange at very high temperatures. The glow is a sign that the element is extremely hot, so it is usually covered or placed safely inside the appliance.

A heating element is designed to get hot safely and usefully, unlike ordinary connecting wires, which are made to carry current with as little heating as possible.