How Do Microwave Ovens Work?

Microwaves ovens are now almost considered an essential part of every family's kitchen. The device is used to heat up foods and drinks. However, little do people know, they microwave oven actually the water molecules within the food or drink.

Each molecule has its own bond length that is dependent on the individual atoms and how they interact with each other. The microwave oven beams electromagnetic waves that are calibrated to the exact frequency that corresponds with the bond length between the Oxygen and Hydrogen atoms in water. The beams shot at the water molecule add energy causing the water to vibrate, transferring energy to other molecules through elastic collisions. When these molecules collide with other molecules, the friction generates heat that increases the temperature of the other substances coming in contact with water molecules random trajectories. Therefore, putting a dry substance into the microwave will not get particularly warm except on the outside where it is exposed to the air where there are trace amounts of water vapor floating around.

Due to many people not understanding the nature of microwaves, there are often many burn related injuries due to people not knowing how energy is transferred through electromagnetic waves. A potato for example is made of largely water and when placed in a microwave oven, the outer layer will heat up because of the water molecules vibrating thereby generating heat from friction. However, if the center of a food, take a jelly filled doughnut is placed in a microwave, the dough and outer parts of the doughnut will remain relatively the same temperature or a bit higher due to energy being transferred through conduction or direct contact with the hot jelly. Due to the jelly being largely made of water, the jelly will be hot while the rest of the doughnut is much cooler, fooling many people in to thinking that the inside is equally as cool as the dough portion.

On another note, the idea of "nuking" your food through placing it in a microwave oven is a common misconception. If as a child your parents ever told you to stay away from the microwave door, you should heed their warning for death may follow in only the most extreme cases. In actuality, being exposed to small amounts of microwaves is non-lethal, as it will only heat up your body's water, although too much exposure could lead to cooking your body. Cooking food, especially vegetables, with a microwave is healthier than most traditional methods of cooking since it allows for the food to retain more of its healthy vitamins.