What Is a Microwave Oven?

microwave

Microwave is an appliance that cooks and heats food using electromagnetic waves. It is generally credited to US engineer Percy Spencer after World War II, though its development had its roots in radar technology developed during the war. The microwave oven uses a cavity magnetron to generate microwaves that are transported through a waveguide into the cooking cavity. The microwaves penetrate the food and create friction between the molecules in the food that causes it to heat up, with water in particular absorbing the most energy. Different foods and liquids absorb microwaves at varying rates, which is why it’s important to use the proper containers for your food when using a microwave.

The microwave oven comes with a turntable that allows you to rotate the food to ensure it cooks evenly and quickly. You’ll also find a cooling fan that runs to prevent overheating and keep the cooking cavity cool. The controls allow you to set the duration of the cooking and select different modes like defrosting, quick heating, baking, etc.

Microwave radiation is used in modern communication systems for point-to-point data transmission, microwave radio relay networks and wireless broadband Internet access; as an industrial process for curing plastics and other materials, and to generate plasma for semiconductor processing techniques (reactive ion etching, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition). It’s also used for medical diathermy and cancer treatment, remote sensing and collision avoidance systems for robots and garage door openers, and in radio astronomy to study the radiation emitted by planets, stars and nebulas with large dish antennas.