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
Astronomy
Medicine
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
A waveguide guides the
microwaves into the
cooking chamber
The magnetron tube
transforms the high voltage
into electromagnetic energy
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 burned
out bulb will
work fine
Gasses in light bulb make it glow different
colors when subjected to microwave energy
A small neon bulb works really well
The setup At about 20sec
A laser printer lamp
A Christmas tree ornament works much like
a CD, but in a 3-D Pattern