What Is a Microwave?
Microwaves are a form of radiation that run along the electromagnetic spectrum. This spectrum is made up of different energies including radio and light waves. It even has gamma radiation, which is deadly to people in large doses. Each of these energies has its own identifying characteristics. These characteristics are often measured in terms of frequency. Frequency is essentially determined by how often a wave might repeat itself. Much like a ripple in the water, microwaves have to start from a source and empty outward. Each wave will have a top and bottom, or low and high point. These are often referred to as crests and troughs. The pairs of crests and troughs vary according to the type of wave, too.
Microwave Oven
A microwave can heat food by exciting the molecules inside the food particles. When the particles get excited, they vibrate back and forth. This causes a tremendous amount of friction and, subsequently, heat. Anyone who has ever rubbed her hands together knows that the surface of the palms get hot after a few seconds. This is because the surface of the skin has particles and rubbing them together causes friction and heat. Microwaves do the same thing, but only internally.
Cooking Food or Water
After a few minutes in the microwave oven, a piece of meat will get cooked. It will also appear dramatically different. This is because when food particles are excited for too long, the molecules inside will generate so much heat they will literally burn the water molecules away. One has only to look at an overcooked hamburger to see evidence of this. An interesting element when cooking with microwave ovens is that you can only use certain materials to cook items with. Plastic is usually used. Certain molecules react differently when exposed to microwaves. Just as that hamburger might get all the water essentially burned out of it, the container it is cooked in might react, as well. When using a microwave oven, it is not a good idea to use a metal container. When metal is exposed to microwaves, it acts as a conductor. Plastic generally soaks up the waves, while metal will reflect them outward. Molecules in certain types of ceramic containers will simply get too excited. This often results in hot containers and cold food.
Tags: crests troughs, exposed microwaves, food particles, molecules inside, particles excited
