Panasonic NB-1024 manual HowDoesThe MicrowaveWork?, Transmission, Absorption

HowDoesThe MicrowaveWork?

Microwavesare a formof highfrequencyradiowavessimilar to thoseusedby a radioincludingAM; FM and CB. Theyare, however,muchshorterthan radiowaves;approximatelyfive incheslong.Electricityis convertedintomicrowaveenergyby the magnetrontube.Fromthe magnetrontube,microwave energyis transmittedandabsorbed.

Reflection

Microwavesare reflectedby metaljust as a ball is bounced off a wall.A combinationof stationary(interiorwalls)and rotatingantenna,locatedunderneaththe bottomshelfassure thatthe microwavesarewell distributedwithinthe ovencavitv to produceevenheatingor cookingof foods.

Transmission

Microwavespassthroughsome materialssuchas paper, glassandplasticmuchlikesunlightshiningthrougha window Becausethesesubstancesdo not absorbor reflectthe microwaveenergy,they are ideal materialsfor microwave oven heatinocontainers.

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Absorption

Duringheating,microwaveswillbe absorbedby food.They penetrateto a depthof about3/,to 1'lz-inchesMicrowave. energyexcitesthe moleculesin the food(especiallywater,fat and sugarmolecules),and causesthemto vibrateat a rateof 2,450,000,000timesper second.Thisvibrationcauses friction,and heatis producedjust as you willleel heat producedif youvigorouslyrubyour handstogetherThe. internalheatingof largerfoodsis doneby conductionThe. heatwhichis producedby frictiontravelsby conductionto the centerof the food.Foodsalsocontinueto heatby conduction duringstandingtime.

Becausemicrowavesdissipate,muchlikesunlightas it reachesthe Earth'ssurface,thev are not storedin food.

Radio Interference

1.Operationof the microwaveovenmaycauseinterferenceto your radio,TV or similarequipment.

2. Whenthereis interference,it may be reducedor eliminated by takingthe followingmeasures:

a. Cleandoorand sealingsufacesof the oven. SeeCare of YourMicrowaveOvenfoundon page 18.)

b.Placethe radio,TV, etc, awayfrom the microwaveoven as far as possible.

c. Use a properlyinstalledantenna,to obtainstronger signalreception.

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