So yes, I know air conditioning is one of those complicated heat cycle things that scientists try to explain all the time. (usually in the process making it even more complex than it would have been...)
Here is a site that has simple diagrams to explain:
This video is presented by a company called Coleman who specializes in Air Conditioning and Heating Units. Their video library can be found at http://www.colemanac.com/colemantv/index.asp. This same video is also available in Spanish and you can choose your definition.
All in all, it's a pretty good way to understand how an air conditioner works.
“How much energy is saved by raising the setting for a home air conditioner? For every Fahrenheit the inside temperature is increased, the energy needed for air conditioning is reduced by 3 percent. If all consumers raised the settings on their air conditioners by 6 Fahrenheit, for example, 190,000 barrels of oil could be saved each day. Sources: 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth, p. 30; Luetzelschwab, John. Household Energy Use and Conservation, p. 168.”I found the coolest website! www.energyquest.ca.gov/ It is really easy to understand and kid-friendly. There are science projects and games for children as well as accurate descriptions of how energy works and moves. The Article “How Does an Air Conditioner Work” relates the cooling technology of an air conditioner to that of a refrigerator, using a chemical (that easily converts between gas and liquid form) to transfer heat in the air and remove it. There are 3 basic parts of an air conditioner. The condenser and compressor are the outside components of the typical “split- system” where half of the unit is outside, and the other is located in a hall way or basement (or garage…etc…). The compressor – compresses the refrigerant, or pushes it closer together. The fan on the condenser helps to move the heat away from the unit (and out of the house). The evaporator portion is located inside – sometimes part of your furnace. This is the tool that actually extracts the heat from the air using the process of evaporation. Another type of cooling unit is a heat pump – a heat pump is an outside portion of a split system but has the option of cooling or heating. Heat pumps are especially energy efficient because…well it’s a little complicated. If you want a break down, I suggest reading the answer at http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/eng99/eng99018.htm. Heat pumps are efficient because of the amount of heat they are able to create – which helps in heating and cooling.
The picture provided with the article is also very simple and helpful to understanding why an improperly sized air conditioner or older model may not work as well as the newer, more technologically advanced products.
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/how_it_works/air_conditioner.html
I would definitely recommend a visit to this site for all ages. There is interesting information about energy use, cool games and experiments, and a ton of links that take you to more interesting places. This website does a very good job of explaining things easily but correctly.
