• Question: How does a microwave work?

    Asked by 464kvna44 to David, Colin on 11 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: David Taylor

      David Taylor answered on 11 Nov 2014:

      Microwaves are a kind of radiation: their frequency is the same as the frequency that water molecules vibrate at. So when you turn it on any water in the microwave will vibrate and heat up. So when you are heating up some food you are really only heating up the water in the food.
      Sometimes it can go wrong though: last year I had a case where a lady put a glass jug in the microwave and the glass melted. That is definitely not supposed to happen!!

    • Photo: Colin Keogh

      Colin Keogh answered on 11 Nov 2014:

      Microwaves use microwave radiation to shake the molecules of water in your food. As the shake they heat up, causing your food to warm up.

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