Microwave Safety
Learning Objective
I can use a model to explain how microwaves transfer energy and discuss potential safety concerns.
Key Concepts
Microwaves heat food by making polar molecules like water vibrate, creating frictional heat.
Metals are conductors, so the electrons concentrate on the surface, leading to high voltages at sharp edges, corners, and small gaps, which can cause sparking.
Microwave radiation is not ionizing and does not alter food chemically, but transfers energy through friction.
Practice Questions
This lesson includes 12 practice questions to reinforce learning.
View questions preview
1. What type of energy transfer is described by the term 'radiation' in the context of microwaves?
2. What is the role of a magnetron in a microwave oven?
3. Explain how microwaves heat food at a molecular level.
...and 9 more questions
Educational Video
Why can't you put metal in a microwave? - Aaron Slepkov
TED-Ed