Air Conditioning

Air conditioning keeps rooms cool when it is hot outside. It also takes away extra water from the air, which is called humidity. An air conditioner, or AC, can make hot summer days much more comfortable. Many homes, schools, cars, and stores have air conditioning today.

How It Works

An air conditioner pulls warm air from a room through a cold part inside it. The cold part takes the heat out of the air. Then a fan blows the cooler air back into the room. The heat is pushed outside, which is why AC units feel warm on the outside.

Who Invented It

Willis Carrier invented the first modern air conditioner in 1902. At first, it was made to help a printing company keep its paper from wrinkling in the summer. Later, movie theaters used AC to bring in crowds on hot days. Soon, air conditioning spread to homes around the world.

Fun Facts

• Air conditioning was first built for a factory, not for people.
• Many movie theaters in the 1930s became famous for being 'cool inside.'
• AC units use the same basic idea as a refrigerator.

Did You Know?

Air conditioning helped big cities grow in hot places where it was once too warm to work indoors all day.