What Is Microwave Technology?

Microwave (also microwaves or MW) is the technology that uses electromagnetic waves to heat food and other objects inside a microwave oven. It turns electric energy into electromagnetic radiation that stimulates water molecules in the food, causing them to vibrate and eventually heat up. The process also works on other substances, such as fats and sugars, but to a lesser extent. Microwave ovens are the most common consumer application of this technology.

The physics of microwave radiation is similar to that of radio waves, but has shorter wavelengths. This allows for much faster heating and cooking, since it doesn’t have to travel through the object to reach its center. In fact, a typical microwave oven can cook an entire meal six times faster than a conventional oven.

A common use of microwave technology is to provide wireless network connectivity. In these applications, microwave technology transmits telephony, fax, and data communication across wide geographic areas without the need for copper or fiber-optical cables.

Unlike other forms of radiation, microwaves don’t cause cancer. However, they can cause burns when they directly contact the skin. Two areas of the body that are particularly vulnerable to microwave radiation are the eyes and testes. These areas have few blood vessels that can carry away excess heat, and the water molecules in these tissues absorb microwaves more readily than other tissues. The FDA has created and enforced standards to prevent injuries from this dielectric heating, and to minimize the damage that can occur when the wrong type of microwave radiation is used.