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How a Microwave Oven Works?



By: Emmy Mak
What are Microwaves?
   Microwaves are a form of electromagnetic energy, like light
    waves or radio waves

   Microwaves are used extensively in communications
       such as to relay long-distance telephone signals, television programs and
        computer information across the earth or to a satellite in space.

   Good for transmitting information because it can penetrate
    haze, light rain and snow, clouds, and smoke.

   Also used in radars and in detecting speeding cars.

   Microwave has become most familiar as the energy source
    for cooking food.
Electromagnetic Spectrum


   Electromagnetic
    radiation exists in a     Table 1: Frequency and Wavelength Range of Each Radiation
    range of frequencies      Type in the Electromagnetic Spectrum.
    called the
                                 Radiation Type        Frequency Range (Hz)       Wavelength Range
    electromagnetic                Gamma rays              above 3 x 1019             < 10-12 m
    spectrum.                         X-rays              3 x 1017 - 3 x 1019        1 nm - 1 pm
   Each frequency has a       Ultraviolet Radiation     7.5 x 1014 - 3 x 1017      400 nm - 1 nm

    specific wavelength and      Visible Spectrum       3.8 x 1014 - 7.5 x 1014    750 nm - 380 nm

    as the frequency            Infrared Radiation         1011 - 3.8 x 1014       25 um - 2.5 um

                                   Microwaves                 108 - 1012            1 mm - 25 um
    decreases, the actual          Radio waves                104 - 108                >1 mm
    length of the wave gets
    longer.
History
   Invented accidentally by Dr. Percy LeBaron Spencer
   While testing a magnetron during work, he discovered
    the candy bar in his pocket melted
   Experimented with other food products (popcorn and
    eggs), and realized microwaves can cook foods quickly
   At 1947, 1st commercial microwave oven produced
    (called Radarange)
       Mostly used by restaurants, railroad cars,
        ocean liners and military
   Improvement and refinements made ~
    by 1967, 1st domestic microwave oven
    produced
How the Oven Works
   Electricity from the wall outlet travels through the power
    cord and enters the microwave oven through a series of
    fuse and safety protection circuits
   These circuits include various fuses and thermal
    protectors that are designed to deactivate the oven in the
    event of an electrical short or if an overheating condition
    occurs
   When the oven door is closed, an electrical path is also
    established through a series of safety interlock switches
 Sensing that all systems are set to go, the signal activates triac, producing
a voltage path to the high-voltage transformer.
 The high-voltage transformer along with a special diode and capacitor
arrangement increases the typical household voltage from ~115 volts to ~3000
volts
   The magnetron converts the high voltage in to the microwave frequency for
    cooking
   The microwave energy is transmitted into a waveguide
   The waveguide feeds the energy to the stirrer blade and into the cooking area
   When the door is opened, or the timer reaches zero, the microwave energy
    stops.
Microwave oven
Magnetron




Electrons from a hot filament would travel radially to
 the outside ring if it were not for the magnetic field.
The magnetic force deflects them as shown and they
   tend to sweep around the circle. In doing so, they
   pump the natural frequency of the cavities. The
  currents around the resonant cavities cause them to
     radiate electromagnetic energy at that resonant
                        frequency.
How Foods Get Cooked
   The microwaves that penetrate the food have an electric field
    that oscillates 2.45 billion times a second, a frequency that is
    well absorbed by polar liquid molecules such as water, sugars,
    fats and other food molecules.
   Water interacts with the microwave:
       flipping its orientation back and forth very rapidly
       bumping into one another and producing heat, cooking the food.
   Glass, paper, ceramic, or plastic containers are used in
    microwave cooking because the microwaves pass through
    them
   Metal reflects microwaves
       Unsafe to have metal pans/aluminum foil in oven, may damage oven
Health Hazards
   It is known that microwave radiation can heat body tissue the
    same way it heats food.
   Exposure to high levels of microwaves can cause a painful
    burn
       Ex. the lens of the eye ~ exposure to high levels of microwaves can
        cause cataracts.
   Microwave oven used low level of microwaves, within the
    region of non-ionizing radiation
   Still uncertain in the effects of humans from long term
    exposure to low level of microwaves
       Still experimenting
   Best to stay a way (an arms length) in reducing exposure to
    microwaves
References
1.   Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
     http://www.dal.ca/~ehs/files/microwave.safety.pdf

2.   Homepage of Central Valley Christian School.
     http://home.cvc.org/microwaves/

3.   Nave, C. R. Hyperphysics. Georgia State University.
     http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/waves/magnetron.html

4.   Microtech: The Complete Microwave Oven Repair and Information
     Network.
     http://www.gallawa.com/microtech/index.html

5.   Wright, Michael and Mukul Patel. Scientific American: How Things
     Work Today. New York: Marshall Editions Development Ltd., 2000.

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Microwave oven

  • 1. How a Microwave Oven Works? By: Emmy Mak
  • 2. What are Microwaves? Microwaves are a form of electromagnetic energy, like light waves or radio waves Microwaves are used extensively in communications such as to relay long-distance telephone signals, television programs and computer information across the earth or to a satellite in space. Good for transmitting information because it can penetrate haze, light rain and snow, clouds, and smoke. Also used in radars and in detecting speeding cars. Microwave has become most familiar as the energy source for cooking food.
  • 3. Electromagnetic Spectrum Electromagnetic radiation exists in a Table 1: Frequency and Wavelength Range of Each Radiation range of frequencies Type in the Electromagnetic Spectrum. called the Radiation Type Frequency Range (Hz) Wavelength Range electromagnetic Gamma rays above 3 x 1019 < 10-12 m spectrum. X-rays 3 x 1017 - 3 x 1019 1 nm - 1 pm Each frequency has a Ultraviolet Radiation 7.5 x 1014 - 3 x 1017 400 nm - 1 nm specific wavelength and Visible Spectrum 3.8 x 1014 - 7.5 x 1014 750 nm - 380 nm as the frequency Infrared Radiation 1011 - 3.8 x 1014 25 um - 2.5 um Microwaves 108 - 1012 1 mm - 25 um decreases, the actual Radio waves 104 - 108 >1 mm length of the wave gets longer.
  • 4. History Invented accidentally by Dr. Percy LeBaron Spencer While testing a magnetron during work, he discovered the candy bar in his pocket melted Experimented with other food products (popcorn and eggs), and realized microwaves can cook foods quickly At 1947, 1st commercial microwave oven produced (called Radarange) Mostly used by restaurants, railroad cars, ocean liners and military Improvement and refinements made ~ by 1967, 1st domestic microwave oven produced
  • 5. How the Oven Works Electricity from the wall outlet travels through the power cord and enters the microwave oven through a series of fuse and safety protection circuits These circuits include various fuses and thermal protectors that are designed to deactivate the oven in the event of an electrical short or if an overheating condition occurs When the oven door is closed, an electrical path is also established through a series of safety interlock switches
  • 6. Sensing that all systems are set to go, the signal activates triac, producing a voltage path to the high-voltage transformer. The high-voltage transformer along with a special diode and capacitor arrangement increases the typical household voltage from ~115 volts to ~3000 volts
  • 7. The magnetron converts the high voltage in to the microwave frequency for cooking The microwave energy is transmitted into a waveguide The waveguide feeds the energy to the stirrer blade and into the cooking area When the door is opened, or the timer reaches zero, the microwave energy stops.
  • 9. Magnetron Electrons from a hot filament would travel radially to the outside ring if it were not for the magnetic field. The magnetic force deflects them as shown and they tend to sweep around the circle. In doing so, they pump the natural frequency of the cavities. The currents around the resonant cavities cause them to radiate electromagnetic energy at that resonant frequency.
  • 10. How Foods Get Cooked The microwaves that penetrate the food have an electric field that oscillates 2.45 billion times a second, a frequency that is well absorbed by polar liquid molecules such as water, sugars, fats and other food molecules. Water interacts with the microwave: flipping its orientation back and forth very rapidly bumping into one another and producing heat, cooking the food. Glass, paper, ceramic, or plastic containers are used in microwave cooking because the microwaves pass through them Metal reflects microwaves Unsafe to have metal pans/aluminum foil in oven, may damage oven
  • 11. Health Hazards It is known that microwave radiation can heat body tissue the same way it heats food. Exposure to high levels of microwaves can cause a painful burn Ex. the lens of the eye ~ exposure to high levels of microwaves can cause cataracts. Microwave oven used low level of microwaves, within the region of non-ionizing radiation Still uncertain in the effects of humans from long term exposure to low level of microwaves Still experimenting Best to stay a way (an arms length) in reducing exposure to microwaves
  • 12. References 1. Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. http://www.dal.ca/~ehs/files/microwave.safety.pdf 2. Homepage of Central Valley Christian School. http://home.cvc.org/microwaves/ 3. Nave, C. R. Hyperphysics. Georgia State University. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/waves/magnetron.html 4. Microtech: The Complete Microwave Oven Repair and Information Network. http://www.gallawa.com/microtech/index.html 5. Wright, Michael and Mukul Patel. Scientific American: How Things Work Today. New York: Marshall Editions Development Ltd., 2000.