Microwaves are waves that have a frequency of around 300 GHz. These waves can be used to send television, radio, and telephone communications. They are also used to transmit information between satellites and ground-based stations.
There are different types of microwaves, depending on their wavelength. Some are low-power, while others are high-powered. The most common consumer use for microwaves is cooking food. However, there are many other uses for them.
When a person is exposed to a large amount of microwaves, they can experience painful burns. This is due to the fact that a portion of the radiation is transferred to the body. It can cause cataracts in the eye, though it depends on the amount of exposure.
Microwaves are most often classified as radio waves, but they are actually electromagnetic waves. The wavelengths range from 30 cm to 1 mm.
Although they are not ionizing, microwaves can break chemical bonds in cells and DNA. This causes the cells to mutate, leading to cancer.
Microwaves have a relatively long wavelength, meaning they can travel through the atmosphere and through materials such as water. This makes them an effective cooking medium.
Another popular application of microwaves is for radar, a technology that is used by airplanes, ships, and air traffic controllers. RADAR works by sending a short burst of microwaves. In return, the echoes are detected and used to calculate the distance between the source and the target.
There are a variety of technologies that use microwaves, including radar guns, motion detectors, cell phones, and radar altimeters. These devices can be solid-state or vacuum-tube based.