Question

Problem 1: Microwave vs. Toaster Oven

Your friend considers himself a Hot Pockets connoisseur. He eats one every day and insists on cooking it in the toaster oven in order to get the perfect crispy crust. You’re trying to convince him that cooking them in the microwave would be more environmentally friendly. (a) Toaster oven: If it takes 28 minutes to cook a Hot Pocket in a 1400 W toaster oven, how much electricity (in kWh) does this consume every day? (2 pts) (b) Microwave: If it takes only 2 minutes in a 1200 W microwave, how much energy (in kWh) would he save by using the microwave over a whole year? (3 pts) (c) Explaining efficiency: At the end of the cooking, the Hot Pocket is the same temperature (i.e., absorbed the same thermal energy) regardless of whether it’s cooked in the toaster oven or microwave. Why is the microwave more efficient at delivering this thermal energy? Or to put it another way, why are the energy ‘losses’ higher with the toaster oven? Try to explain in 1-2 sentences, and make sure you’re discussing efficiency and energy losses, not just describing how these appliances work

Answer 1