The energy from the microwaves causes the water molecules to vibrate rapidly, which heats the food. These microwaves are then absorbed by the water molecules inside of the food. The waves are contained inside of the appliance thanks to the solid metal walls (and mesh door). The microwaves used in a microwave oven are sent out through a type of antenna that channels them into the cooking area of the appliance. So, we've gotten through the basic science, but we still haven't covered why exactly microwaves work so well to heat food quickly. So, at the end of the day, you won't get cancer from standing too close to a microwave because the rays aren't ionizing, and you won't get cooked either. Microwave ovens also have built-in safety devices that do not allow the oven to work while the door is open. These metal meshes are large enough for you to see your food cooking, but the holes aren't large enough for the microwaves to slip through. Microwaves can, of course, cause heating and burns, but microwave ovens are all designed with a metal mesh on the door of the appliance to keep the microwaves from leaking out. RELATED: 9 THINGS THAT YOU REALLY SHOULDN'T MICROWAVE However, microwaves do not contain enough energy to chemically change substances through ionization - they are an example of non-ionizing radiation. Other types of electromagnetic waves such as ultraviolet and x-rays possess more energy per photon and thus can cause cancer. Radiation, in this case, refers to energy that radiates from a source, and not to radioactivity. This may stem from the use of the word 'radiation' in describing how they work, as well as a fear that this microwave radiation can leak out of the microwave. One popular myth about microwaves is that they can give you cancer. For a deeper dive into the understanding of how magnetrons and, ultimately, microwaves work, take a look at the video below.Īre you safe to stand next to a microwave? This looping of electrons is what actually creates microwaves.Īll of that may have sounded a little bit complex, and it can be when explained without diagrams. Normally, the electrons that are released by the filament would become attracted to the anode, but because of the positioning of the magnet, the electrons loop back to the filament itself. Source: Wikimedia/Public DomainĪ circular magnet is located near the heated filament. The microwave oven puts these electrons to work. As this filament heats up, electrons are released. This increased voltage is needed to power the magnetron, causing a filament to heat up at the core of the device. Inside the microwave oven, a transformer steps up electricity from the wall socket, 120V in the US, or 110V in Europe, to around 4000 volts. At their core, magnetrons are high-voltage motors that output energy in the form of microwaves rather than mechanical work. Inside microwave ovens, the microwaves are created using a device called a magnetron. What makes microwaves so specialized for cooking is just how they interact with water molecules. When compared to other types of radiation, microwaves fall between radio waves, which tend to be longer, and infrared waves, which are shorter.
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