What is the difference between a electric fan and a air conditioner?

Question

My friend says they are both the same, as a fan circulates the air fast therefore the air particles cool down and become cold and give you cold air. And the air conditioner pratically does the same thing. Is this right?

Answer 1

A fan does not change the condition of the air (cooling it, etc.).  A fan increases the flow of air and feels cool because it permits more sweat to evaporate from skin and carries away body heat too.

An air conditioner does change the condition of the air.  Usually it can cool the air by removing heat that is rejected outside the building, it can also remove dust particles (the filter needs to be cleaned) and it removes moisture from the air lowering the relative humidity.  Of course an air conditioner includes a fan that moves the air and usually there is a setting to allow only the fan to be used (either recirculating the air or bringing in fresh air).  Window air conditioning units cool only one room but central air conditioning units can cool an entire building (using the same air ducts as the furnace).

Answer 2

No, a fan simply moves air around; it does not affect air temperature.  An Air Conditioner unit operates off of a thermostat and forces colder air into a room / home.  Air Conditioner systems actually include a fan that pushes this cold air!

Answer 3

No that is not correct.  An electric fan circulates/moves the air that is in the room.  It does not change the temperature of the air.  It may "feel" cooler because the movement of air on the skin has a cooling effect, the moisture on the skin is being  evaporated at a faster rate.  An air conditioner actually has a refrigeration system in it that cools the air that is then forced from the machine using a fan.

Answer 4

well yea but air cons are normally built into the wall and much stronger hope it helps :)

Answer 5

an air conditioner gives out the air out of itself and electric fan takes the air from inside the room and gives it back.so I suggest  an air conditioner.

fan:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtm...

conditioner:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...