What is an element? In electricity, an element is a heating wire.

Element (heating)

The heating element in a hair dryer used to warm up cold air.

The heating element can be left exposed and provide heat directly to the air (such as in a bar fire or a toaster (see video)), or it can be enclosed (for example if it is to be used under water in a kettle).

A hair drier contains an element. The fan in the back of the drier pushes air past the element and the air is warmed. Kettles, fires, cookers, toasters and many other appliances that produce heat all contain heating elements.

Video: Showing the usefulness of a heating element in a toaster and how heat needs to be applied for a long time is an object is to be heated through.

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