How the Microwave works
How the Microwave works step by step guide is given in this article
How good is the oven for you and how does it work which you must know is given here in step by step
Also is Microwaved food bad for you? this question has an answer at end!
Lets dive into history behind origin of Microwave and its useful application Microwave Oven
Origin of the Microwave
Did you ever know that this was one of the accidental inventions?
Some experiments were being perform on magnetron by Scientist Percy Spencer
Magnetron is a device that produces powerful microwave radiation
Orgin of idea occurs when he starts to feel melting of chocolate in his pocket while performing experiments
This excites him and made him think what might be cause and also led a hint that microwaves can be utilize to cook food
So he confirms that High power traveling microwave has the ability to heat food, But he was not sure what was the reason behind this
Microwaves are electromagnetic waves in a particular spectrum, Like other waves they also have alternating electric and magnetic fields
If we have a close look at amplitude of this wave in a specific area we can observe oscillation
Finally Oscillating electric field component of the electromagnetic wave was responsible for cooking food
How the Oscillating electric field in microwave cooks food
Food that we consume has small quantity of water present in it
Water is a polar molecule
Hydrogen atoms of water molecules have an angle separation of 104.5 degree from each other
Over hydrogen and oxygen atoms charges are present that makes it dipole
When an electric field is apply to a water molecule it starts to rotate due to the shock produced on dipole
Since in an electromagnetic wave electric field oscillates continually water molecules will keep on oscillating
Due to this oscillating rotation molecule will rub over each other that causes friction and heat in the food
This was the working principle now lets have look on how this can be use on conventional microwave oven
Reflecting EMW on a confined space will cause reuse of electromagnetic waves multiple times that increases its efficiency
Now you may have answer to inside look of oven
Metal bounces back waves hence inner walls should be made from metal
For effective bouncing reflectors kept at source side this helps to continue this phenomenon and trap all the energy of EMR
Concept behind working
When the wave meets the reflector it returns to its source causing the first reflection wave or else it will be continuing to move forward
After reflection, a second wave will form that moves to the other side of the reflector causing a third wave and this continues
We don’t want many such waves to occur hence second reflector kept at intersection point of first and second wave
By doing this we have third wave which will travel in same path as of second wave so we have only two waves
Why does microwave rotates food kept inside?
As you know from above explanation waves travelling will have high and low energy spots which leads to uneven cooking of food
To solve this issue we have a rotating table inside a microwave that keeps rotating when the cooking process is going on
How the microwave works
Magnetron emits microwaves in all directions which we don’t want in an oven to happen
Waveguides help to propagate microwaves in one direction
From these guides waves enter the cooking chamber, These happen when you switch on oven
Open the door and place food later setting the timer tells machine how long waves need to be transmit
More the time more heat will be more, After closing the lid table keeps rotating which eventually cooks food
The safety and microwaves
Is Microwaved food bad for you? bothers many but before here are few things you need to consider
At the early developent stages due to lack of proper technology most of them were unsafe to use
Now due to advancement in technolgy all ovens are certified and safe to use
Hence microwave ovens are safe to use as the waves don’t leak out by any chance
Hope all your questions related to How the microwave works is given
If you still don’t know how SOLAR ENERGY WORKS you should know how
Any suggestions for points which you think is missing can be told in comments.