LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Microwaves
built 270 days ago
Microwaves are a type of electromagnetic energy like light waves. The one difference is that microwaves cannot be seen by the human eye. Microwaves have longer wavelengths than light waves. Like light waves, microwaves may be reflected and concentrated. Microwaves pass easily through rain, smoke, and fog which block lightwaves. Microwaves can pass through the ionosphere (which surrounds the earth and blocks or reflects longer radio waves).Microwaves are used in aircraft.
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Microwaves are much, much longer than heat waves. Microwaves are about 12 centimeters long. That would be 12 million nanometers. When these waves pass through some materials they set these substances tumbling--on the molecular level. That motion becomes heat. Liquid water is just such a substance. It's H2O, and its molecules are almost lined up: H-O-H.
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Microwaves these days have many new features which may need some getting used to. In order to effectively understand all the functions of the microwave, it is suggested that you read the instruction manual prior to use. Some of the functions include:
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Microwaves may have been designed to look like harmless kitchen fixtures, but homeowners must read through its safe cooking practices. Most liquids reach a few degrees above their boiling point before they actually begin to bubble. With this mind, you might not be aware how hot the liquid you're working on until you finally touch it. In addition, disturbing liquids in microwaves can cause them to explode. Thus, you need to have some tray holders before handling anything out of the oven.
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Microwaves affect molecules that have slight differences in their electric properties from one side of the molecule to the other. Water is just such a molecule. Microwaves cause liquid water molecules to rub against one another and heat up. So your microwave oven is able to heat food by causing the water molecules in the food to rub against each other. When the water molecules are a gas (when they're water vapor) they're too far apart to rub against each other to heat up much--that's why the air stays relatively cool.
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Microwaves were first used for radar in WWII. (1939-1945) The development of microwaves is only one step of the gradual evolution of the concept and application of electromagnetic waves. Maxwell formulated a set of equations supporting all electromagnetic phenomena, which became known as Maxwell's equations. Hertz's experiment proved further generalizations and applications which led to the development of the microwave.
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