Answer to Question #212709 in Physics for Tawanda

Question

Microwaves are part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Describe how food is cooked in a microwave. [

Answer 1

Many products contain water molecules. In the absence of an electric field, the molecules are arranged randomly. In an electric field, they line up strictly in the direction of the field lines. As soon as the field changes direction to the opposite, the molecules immediately turn over 180 degrees.

Microwaves bombard water molecules in food, causing them to rotate millions of times per second, creating molecular friction that heats the food.