Microwaves

Dave Klamer
May 8, 2001

What is a Microwave?
Part of the RF spectrum
1 - 300 GHz

A microwave oven

800-900 MHz
50-600MHz

Uses of Microwaves
Cooking
Communication
Radios
Satellites
RADAR

Medicine

Astronomy

How A Microwave Oven Works

Electricity flows from from the wall, through fuses
and safety mechanism to the controller

How A Microwave Oven Works

When the controller says to go, the triac activates, sending
power to the high voltage transformer (About 3000-4000 V)

How A Microwave Oven Works

The magnetron tube
transforms the high voltage
into electromagnetic energy

A waveguide guides the

microwaves into the
cooking chamber
A stirring blade spreads
the microwaves evenly

High Voltage Components

Several components needed
The Magnetron is the heart
of the microwave
2450 MHz

2450 MHz happened to be available

RF Leakage

Normal Microwave Use

RF energy excites water
molecules
Water molecules rotate on
poles, friction with
neighbor molecules
Friction forces molecules
to retain energy, otherwise
it would just radiate
energy away

CD in Microwave
RF energy bounces of from
CD, makes neat sparks

* This could cause damage to microwave

Lit Matchstick in Microwave

Plasma of the fire rapidly
absorbs the large amount
of RF energy

* This may damage your microwave

Tinfoil in Microwave
This is why your mom told
you to never put tinfoil in the
microwave!

This kicks out a

tremendous amount
of heat and noise.
Will burn through
glass

Light Bulbs in Microwave

A Christmas
treemake
ornament
works
much like
Gasses
in light
bulb
it
glow
different
A
laser
printer
lamp
a
CD,
but
in
a
3-D
Pattern
colors when subjected to microwave energy
A small neon bulb works really well
The setup

At about 20sec

A burned
out bulb will
work fine