I can now see that a charge can make a water molecule rotate, but what does this
have to do with microwaves?
Microwaves, like other kinds of electromagnetic radiation, consist of
electric force fields. If you want to understand more about electromagnetic
waves, and the electric forces produced by charged particles
click here. If you want to understand the arrow picture of waves (on the right)
and its relationship to shaking a charge, click here,
then click on classical waves for the advanced student.
But to make the water molecules rotate before, I had to move the charge around.
Moving that charge around changed the electric force field on the water. With microwaves,
the electric force field varies up and down as time goes on. We will look at more of the
properties of microwaves in answering the question, "Why don't microwaves get out?"
Diagram is not to scale
As I increase the power, the water molecule snaps around faster.
And I can see the arrows getting bigger...does that mean the
field is getting stronger?
Yes, it does. Now, there's one more important thing we
need to talk about...
I can now see that a charge can make a water molecule rotate, but what does this
have to do with microwaves?
Microwaves, like other kinds of electromagnetic radiation, consist of
electric force fields. If you want to understand more about electromagnetic
waves, and the electric forces produced by charged particles
But to make the water molecules rotate before, I had to move the charge around.
Moving that charge around changed the electric force field on the water. With microwaves,
the electric force field varies up and down as time goes on. We will look at more of the
properties of microwaves in answering the question, "Why don't microwaves get out?"
As I increase the power, the water molecule snaps around faster.
And I can see the arrows getting bigger...does that mean the
field is getting stronger?
Yes, it does. Now, there's one more important thing we
need to talk about...
