Microwave : Details and Usage

Microwave is a trivial name for the frequency range of electromagnetic waves 1-300 GHz. Microwave is a typical example of non-ionizing radiation. That means, Microwave does not carry enough energy per quantum to dislodge electron from an atom or molecule on target. This is the reason why, the Microwave Ovens has a Non-ionizing radiation hazard sign behind the unit.

Brief Details of Microwave

Due to their wavelength microwave, in broader sense particularly excite dipole which is suitable for various usages. This effect is particularly apparent in the vibrational excitation of molecules of water in the microwave oven. The heating of water is not based on the absorption at a specific resonant frequency , but the water molecules as dipoles try continually to to align with the alternating electromagnetic field  and a dielectric heat loss arises. The commonly used frequency in microwave ovens is 2.45 GHz. Thereby achieving a good compromise between absorption and penetration into the food. By comparison, the lowest resonance frequency of the free water molecule is approximately 22.23508 GHz.

The dielectric loss factor , the electrical resistivity and magnetic losses, determine the frequency-dependent absorption of the microwave and thus their heating. Microwaves are electromagnetic waves, so they may as get reflected like light and refraction will also interfere. They are reflected by metals and electrical conductors and is absorbed very little. Suitable insulators like some thermoplastics, especially PTFE (Teflon), glass, many ceramics and mica are transparent (or clear) for this radiation and absorb them very little – this is basics of using typical utensils for Microwave Oven.

Electromagnetic waves above a frequency of about 1 GHz can progressively worsen data transmitted with a coaxial cable, since the losses in the dielectric increase with the frequency. Very high power microwave are magnetron produced. Magnetrons are also used in microwave ovens.

You can test your Microwave Oven’s outside with an Android Device and Applications which simulate Geiger“Müller counter. So, they can be traced. Microwaves are very well absorbed by ferrites. Some military aircraft , ships and armored land vehicles are therefore has a corresponding coating to protect them from the tracking methods used by a radar.

Cut section of a Magnatron, commonly used in a microwave oven. Image belongs to Pingu Is Sumerian of Wikimedia, Permission is granted to by the Author to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts.

Applications of Microwave

Microwaves are used in radar, in the microwave oven, in many industrial applications such as plasma systems, wireless communication systems ( that includes cellular phone, Bluetooth technology, satellite radio, WLAN etc.) and sensor systems. Another application of microwave is in sulfur ball lamp. Most radio astronomy uses microwaves. Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), American Global Positioning System (GPS) are based on Microwave. Microwave radiation is used in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR or ESR) spectroscopy.

The heart of the acceleration distance for electrons are cavity resonators for microwaves. Expected result can be reached by electric field strengths of more than 40 million volts per meter. For other technical applications, among the other frequencies the 433 MHz, 2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz are used, Wi-Fi operates at 2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz. Devices commony used other than oven operate at 433 MHz, such as baby monitors and wireless thermometer.

Adverse Health Effects of Microwave

Microwave is basically not great as frankly you can understand it excites a molecule and produce heat. It is said that, long-term exposure of Microwave can have a carcinogenic effect – that is it can create cancer. There is a protective mechanism associated with a thing named p53 – it is a tumor suppressor protein (good thing). There is a double hit theory for destruction of the gene’s function. Double hit means, one hit knocked it to some extent, second hit blew it completely. p53 is the guardian of the genome. Without it, we will get cancer in layman’s term. The reason I mentioned to test your Microwave Oven’s outside with an Android Device with Application like Geiger“Müller counter is, actually they shows a change in reading in operating cycle within a variable distance, it is several fold more than your Computer. It is better to not be closer to a Microwave Oven or rather place it few feet away from any pet or human sitting arrangement as we basically use it years after years. There is not much reason to rely on researches to show that Microwave Oven is very safe even if you sleep hugging it every night in operating condition. In World War II, it was recorded that peoples in the linear radiation path of radar experienced various auditory manifestation, NASA later researched out problems with inner ear. Many Avian species behaving abnormally due to huge density of the cellular phone towers. Cooked food might have adverse effect :

It is better to over-estimate the risks than to underestimate. Pregnant,  Patients, Paediatric Group, Pets and old patients is (4PO ; it is my mnemonic, I not not granting permission to copy, distribute without giving full credit and backlink) better to keep at least 3 feet away from a standard Microwave oven.