Science

1. CLASS: Integrated Science Form 5
TOPIC OF LESSON: How an Air Conditioner Works
MODULE / SECTION: B - The Home and Workplace

2. OBJECTIVES
SYLLABUS OBJECTIVE(S) [OBJETIVO DE SYLLABUS]
Candidate should be able to:
Explain the need for proper ventilation.
El candidato debe ser capaz de:
Explique la necesidad de una ventilación adecuada.

3. OBJECTIVES
LESSON OBJECTIVE(S) [OBJETIVOS DE LA LECCIÓN]
By the end of this lesson, the student should be able to:
● Describe how an air conditioner works;
Al final de esta lección, el estudiante debe ser capaz de:
● Describe cómo funciona un acondicionador de aire;

4. PREREQUISITE LESSON(S)
[LECCION DE PRERREQUISITO]
Make sure to complete these lessons before doing this one: [Add hyperlink]
● Evaporation & Cooling
● Ventilation I - The Importance of Ventilation
● Ventilation II - Ventilation Design in Buildings

5. GLOSSARY [Will fit better on the platform]
ENGLISH SPANISH
advantage ventaja
air conditioner aire acondicionado
cooling coils serpentines de refrigeración
expansion valve válvula de expansión
fan ventilador
mechanical mecánico
pressure presión
refrigerant refrigerante
ventilator ventilador

6. KeyWords
Look out for the Key Words. They are new words that will be in the
Glossary above.
They will be highlighted like this:
Key Word

7. INTRODUCTION
Have you noticed those large
commercial buildings in cities?
Their windows are always
closed but they are usually
quite comfortable inside.
What makes this possible?

8. INTRODUCTION cont’d/…
AIR CONDITIONERS
make this possible.
They are used to make
enclosed spaces
comfortable.
In this lesson we will look
at how air conditioners
work.

9. EXPLANATION
An air conditioner is a mechanicalventilator, that behaves like a refrigerator.
It provides COMPLETE VENTILATION, in the following ways.
An air conditioner:
➢ Cools the air to the desired temperature
➢ Filters dust, bacteria, odours & other pollutants
➢ Controls humidity
➢ Regulates the movement of air in the room.
It also has the major advantage of being easily controlled & adjusted to suit the need of the
occupant.

10. EXPLANATION
All air conditioners have basic
parts, such as compressors and
fans.
This is a COMPRESSOR.
Click on the link below for the
other basic parts.
https://h5p.org/node/549939

11. EXPLANATION
This is how all the parts work
together.
1. The fan pulls air from the
room into the unit.
2. Air passes over the
coolingcoils.
3. The cooled air is pushed
out of the unit, into the
room.

12. EXPLANATION
But how do the
cooling coils get cool?
Click on the triangle,
and watch the video
to find out.

13. SUMMARY
● The air conditioner makes it possible to work in large enclosed buildings.
● The air conditioner is a mechanical ventilator, that behaves like a refrigerator.
● It provides complete ventilation, which includes cooling of the air and filtering of pollutants.
● Air conditioners have five basic parts: compressor, cooling coils, fans, expansion valve and
thermostat.
● The air conditioner takes advantage of the fact that expansion of a liquid to gas releases heat
energy, making it cold. Fans then takes air from the room, cools it and pushes it back into the room.
It also filters the air.

14. Now Let’s See if You Understand...
Click on the link below.
It is a drag and drop exercise testing your knowledge of how the air conditioner
works.
https://h5p.org/node/549966

15. REFERENCES
Andy Dingley (scanner), File:Expansion valve (Steam and the Steam Engine, Evers).jpg, viewed on 9th July 2019,
<https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Expansion_valve_(Steam_and_the_Steam_Engine,_Evers).jpg>
Donna Bynoe-Arthur, 2004, Integrated Science - A Concise Revision Course for CXC, Nelson Thornes Ltd,
Cheltenham, viewed on 8th July 2019.
Furud from Pixabay, viewed on 9th July 2019, <https://pixabay.com/photos/office-building-business-sky-
2297869/>
HowStuffWorks, 9th March 2007, How Air Conditioning Works, viewed on 9th July 2019,
<https://youtu.be/1MiQCBIx1mM>
NA, Public Domain, viewed on 9th July 2019, <https://www.maxpixel.net/Summer-Hot-Air-Conditioner-
Global-Warming-3629396>
NA, Public Domain, viewed on 9th July 2019, <https://pixnio.com/objects/electric-fan-electric-motor-
electricity-electronics-engine-ventilation-air-technology>

16. REFERENCES cont’d/…
NA, Works Screw Gif, viewed on 9th July 2019, <https://giphy.com/gifs/works-screw-compressor-
2TvKRSRuDjdHa>
Pavel Ševela [CC BY-SA 3.0], File:Electronic thermostat.jpg, viewed on 9th July 2019,
<https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Electronic_thermostat.jpg>
PEO ACWA, Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Energetics Neutralization System Cooling Coils,
viewed on 9th July 2019, <https://www.flickr.com/photos/acwa/42950803320>
Tania Chung, 2017, Integrated Science for CSEC Examinations, Macmillan Education, London, viewed on 9th July
2019.