My mystery microwave - sometimes cooks metal
845 views · Published 13 March 2009 · 1:27 · Indexed 28 October 2026
Channel: Adam Garrison · 2009 · Entertainment
I remember (vaguely) from Professor Ken Conner of Fields and Waves fame at RPI that microwaves can cook smooth metal. Pointy metal, not so much. Something about electrons standing up on the corners and reflecting electromagnetic radiation. Fun fact! Microwaves cook food by sending electromagnetic waves back and forth at the same resonant frequency as water molecules. It makes them change polarity back and forth superfast (something like 2.3 GHz) and they rotate around and friction makes them heat up. I have no idea why this makes aluminum foil spark and cat food cans cook normally, but it's probably why I'm no longer an electrical engineer.
