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electromagnetic spectrum

understanding
microwaves
 understanding microwaves

Microwaves are a type of

electromagnetic radiation, as are

what are
radio waves, ultraviolet
radiation, X-rays and gamma-rays.

microwaves? Microwaves have a range of

applications, including
communications, radar and, perhaps
best known by most people,
cooking.
 understanding microwaves

where can we
found microwaves
on the ems?
Electromagnetic radiation is transmitted in waves
or particles at different wavelengths and
frequencies. This broad range of wavelengths is
known as the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS). The
spectrum is generally divided into seven regions in
order of decreasing wavelength and increasing
energy and frequency. The common designations are
radio waves, microwaves, infrared (IR), visible
light, ultraviolet (UV), X-rays and gamma-rays.
Microwaves fall in the range of the EM spectrum
between radio and infrared light.
 understanding microwaves

what do microwaves have

that differ with those
other regions of the ems?
MICROWAVES HAVE FREQUENCIES RANGING FROM ABOUT 1 BILLION
CYCLES PER SECOND, OR 1 GIGAHERTZ (GHZ), UP TO ABOUT 300
GIGAHERTZ AND WAVELENGTHS OF ABOUT 30 CENTIMETERS (12
INCHES) TO 1 MILLIMETER (0.04 INCHES). EVEN AT THE
HIGHEST FREQUENCY, THE ENERGY PER PHOTON IS LESS THAN
10−3 EV WHICH IS TOO LOW TO PRODUCE IONIZATION.
MICROWAVES ARE SMALL WHEN COMPARED WITH THE WAVES USED IN
RADIO BROADCASTING.
 understanding microwaves
understanding microwaves
understanding microwaves

what do microwaves have that

differ with those other regions
of the ems?
MICROWAVES TRAVEL IN STRAIGHT LINES AND THEY WILL BE AFFECTED
LIGHTLY BY THE TROPOSPHERE. THEY DON’T REQUIRE ANY MEDIUM TO TRAVEL.
METALS WILL REFLECT THESE WAVES. NON-METALS SUCH AS GLASS AND
PARTICLES ARE PARTIALLY TRANSPARENT TO THESE WAVES.
 understanding microwaves

radar and
communicatios

medical treatments
Uses of
industrial works Microwaves
household cooking
different uses of
microwaves

radar and
communications
Microwaves are used mostly for point-to-point
communications systems to convey all types of information,
including voice, data and video in both analog and digital
formats. They are also used for supervisory control and
data acquisition for remote machinery, switches, valves
and signals. We can also use microwaves for Long Distance
Wireless Transmission, Satellite Communication, Cell Phone
Communication, Wi-Fi, Global Positioning System (GPS), and
Bluetooth. understanding microwaves
 different uses of
microwaves

radar and
communications
Another important application of microwaves is radar. The word
"radar" was originally an acronym for "RAdio Detection And
Ranging". Prior to World War II, British radio engineers found
that short-wavelength radio waves could be bounced off distant
objects like ships and aircraft, and the returning signal could
be detected with highly sensitive directional antennas so the
presence and locations of those objects could be determined.
Usage of the term "radar" has become so common that it is now a
word in and of itself, and can refer to systems that use
understanding microwaves
microwaves or radio waves.
different uses of
microwaves

medical
treatments
Microwaves have played an important role in the fight against
cancer, providing a new way of treating the disease. Microwave
ablation is commonly used in the removal of unwanted tissue
masses, for example liver tumours, lung tumours and prostate
ablation and also in the treatment of large tumours. Cancer
patients who are poor surgical candidates can also benefit from
microwave ablation, as it is minimally invasive. Microwave
energy can also use to remove the moisture from various powdered
substances.

understanding microwaves
industrial
works
Many materials are processed by means of
microwave heating, and not just for the next
meal, although microwave energy is the main
component of thermal processing used to eliminate
bacteria in commercial food products. In
agriculture, microwave energy is exploited for
drying of grain and removal of moisture from wood
for use as lumber. In the pharmaceutical
industry, microwave energy removes the moisture
from various powdered substances. In the
materials supply industry, microwave energy
enables the addition of different types of different uses of
coatings to rubber and plastic materials. microwaves
understanding microwaves
 understanding microwaves

different uses of
microwaves

household
cooking
Microwave Oven is commonly used for cooking
purposes without using water. The high energy of
the microwave rotates the polar molecules of
water, fat, and sugars of the foodstuff. This
rotation causes friction that results in heat
generation. This process is called Dielectric
heating. The excitation by the microwave is
almost uniform so that the food will heat up
uniformly. The cooking in the microwave oven is
fast, efficient, and safe.
 let's talk about our health!
understanding microwaves
understanding microwaves
understanding microwaves

Are there human health

risks from exposure to
microwaves?
[ RISKS - SOURCES - PROTECTION ]
 understanding microwaves

The primary biological effect of microwave radiation

within the mammalian tissues is the conversion of the
absorbed energy into heat. When a whole living organism
or a large part of it is exposed and participates in the
heat-transfer mechanisms then there is a local or
general hyperthermia with, possibly, macroscopic

biological damaging effects. Whether or not the damage is

reversible will depend on several physical parameters

effect related to the incident energy (frequency, power

WHEN EXPOSE TO MICROWAVE RADIATION
density, type of radiation source, time of exposure) and
biophysiological parameters of the exposed organism
(size and shape of the region or animal, thickness,
composition, and electrical permittivity and
conductivity of the exposed tissues). Continuous wave
energy and pulsed microwaves (of the same average power
level) will give similar biological effects (Schwan,
1972; Birenbaum et al., 1975).
 understanding microwaves

biological
effect
Non-thermal effects due to microwave radiation, and especially their
biological importance, are still controversial. Some of these
alleged effects may possibly be microscopic scale thermal damage,
due to standing waves or to the fact that bound water has a much
larger absorption coefficient than expected (Vogelman, 1969; Grant,
1974). At frequencies higher than about 30 GHz molecular resonance
effects may also occur (Illinger, 1974). Extensive analysis of the
biological effects of microwaves, including excellent critical
reviews of the nonthermal effects, were published by Michaelson
(1969, 1972, 1974) and Milroy and Michaelson (1971). The physical
background of the mechanisms that could explain non-thermal effects
is discussed by Cleary (1973).
 understanding microwaves

The human body, in normal good health, is able to

dissipate heat from external sources by a complex
sequence of homeostatic mechanisms aimed at
restoring the normal temperature. This thermal
regulatory process, even in regional heating, is

biological
mainly a function of the cooling action provided by
the circulation of the blood. In areas or organs in

effect
which there is a relatively poor blood supply, the
temperature may rise more rapidly and to a higher
degree than in the rest of the body. Classical
examples of such organs are the eye and the testes, WHEN EXPOSE TO MICROWAVE RADIATION
and these are actually the most susceptible organs
to microwave damage. From experiments carried out
on rabbits (Carpenter, 1969) it would appear that
the formation of cataracts of the eye is likely to
be the principal health hazard, as in accidental
overexposure of radar workers (Michaelson, 1969;
Milroy and Michaelson, 1972; Zaret, 1974).
biological
effect
understanding microwaves

A tumor mass at the clinical stage generally has

a poor blood supply, with extensive regions of
necrosis or quasinecrosis which do not possess
the blood-flow channels for a rapid dispersal of
the heat produced by exposure to microwaves.
These regions contain poorly oxygenated (hypoxic)
cells, which may be resistant to conventional
radiotherapy and to cytotoxic drug therapy. The
introduction of hyperthermia using appropriate
microwave equipment could, therefore, be more
effective (either alone or combined with drugs or
ionizing radiation) against those cells which are WHEN EXPOSE TO MICROWAVE RADIATION
less sensitive to more conventionally available
treatments.
What are the Cell towers and cell phones
possible sources Laptops, tablets, computers
Wi-Fi
of Microwave Radar
Baby monitors
Radiation? UHF radios
IN OUR DAILY LIVES Microwave ovens

understanding microwaves
What are these
Symptoms?
IT'S ALREADY KNOWN THAT LONG TERM
Sleep disturbances, including
EXPOSURE TO EMF RADIATION CAN LEAD TO insomnia
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE DISEASES. Headache
THERE IS AN INCREASING NUMBER OF Depression and anxiety
INDIVIDUALS WHO SUFFER FROM A
Fatigue
CONDITION CALLED ELECTROMAGNETIC
Dysesthesia
SENSIBILITY. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE
SENSITIVE TO EMF RADIATION AND Lack of concentration
PRESENT VARIOUS SYMPTOMS DURING CELL Memory problems
PHONE, LAPTOP USAGE OR HAVE THESE Dizziness
SYMPTOMS WHEN THEY ARE IN THE
PROXIMITY OF A CELL PHONE TOWER.

understanding microwaves
 understanding microwaves

When talking on your cell phone,

turn on the speakerphone mode with
your phone a hand’s length away.

6 behaviors
Try not to keep your phone turned that can be used to
on next to your body throughout decrease exposure
the day. from microwave
radiation

Try to use your phone when you have the

maximum number of bars, indicating the
best reception. When signal quality is
poor, your phone emits more radiation.
 understanding microwaves

Text instead of calling whenever

possible. The farther your phone is
from your body, the better.

6 behaviors
Never sleep next to your gadgets that can be used to
and other appliances that can emit decrease exposure
microwave radiation. from microwave
radiation

Try not to use your cell phone in

elevators, cars, trains, or planes. Cell
phones draw more power, and emit more
radiation, in enclosed metal spaces.
 how microwave oven uses
microwaves to quickly heat
food?
The microwave oven consists of a high voltage transformer that passes energy into the
Magnetron, a Magnetron chamber, Magnetron control unit, a waveguide, and the cooking
chamber. The energy in the microwave oven has a frequency of 2.45 GHz with a wavelength of
12.24 cm. The Microwave propagates as alternating cycles so that the polar molecules (one
end positive and the other end negative) align themselves according to the alternating
cycles. This self-alignment causes rotation of the polar molecules. The rotating polar
molecules hit other molecules and put them into motion. Microwave induced heating is more
efficient if the tissue has high water content since there are free water molecules to
rotate. Fats, sugars, Frozen water, etc show less dielectric heating due to the presence of
less free water molecules. The microwave cooks the outer part of the food first and then
the inner part similar to ordinary cooking using a flame.The cooking chamber of the
microwave oven is a Faraday cage that prevents the microwave to leak out to the
environment. The glass door of the oven helps to view the interior of the oven. The Faraday
cage, as well as the door, is well protected using conductive mesh to keep the shielding.
The perforations in the mesh are lesser in size so the microwave cannot escape through the
mesh. The electrical efficiency of the Microwave oven is high since the oven converts only
a portion of the electrical energy. A typical oven consumes 1100 electrical energy to
produce 700 watts of microwave energy. The remaining 400 watts is dissipated as heat in the
Magnetron. Additional energy is required for operating other components of the oven like a
lamp, cooling fan turntable motor, etc.
understanding microwaves
 use it responsibly!
understanding microwaves
understanding microwaves
understanding microwaves

"Microwaves Make the World Go Round!"

WHEN MICROWAVE TECHNOLOGY WAS FIRST USED TO DEVELOP RADAR SYSTEMS IN
WORLD WAR 2, NO ONE COULD EVER HAVE IMAGINED THAT IT WOULD GO ON TO
HAVE SO MANY AMAZING USES IN THE POST-WAR ERA. TODAY MICROWAVES
POWER NEARLY EVERYTHING AROUND US. FROM FACILITATING CELLULAR
COMMUNICATION TO PROVIDING A QUICK, EASY, AND CONVENIENT SOLUTION
FOR HEATING FOOD. REGARDLESS OF ITS USES, ONE THING IS CERTAIN: IT’S
HARD TO IMAGINE LIFE WITHOUT IT. THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO
COMMUNICATE WITH FRIENDS OR LOVED ONES OVERSEAS OR HEAT THAT
LEFTOVER PIZZA SLICE.