A question of science

[Nanosauromo]

Why does this happen?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQOAxp7QOSY

[ThoseTheBrokes]

clean your microwave you hobo.

 

 

 

:wink:

[warri0r45]

It looks like some sort of interaction between microwave radiation and some sort of metal in the wrapper (if there is any).

 

 

 

Speculation on my part. Not sure.

 

 

 

Whatever it is, it's bloody cool. :)

[OldJoe]

Ah, i've seen this before. It happens the exact same thing to a CD disk. Can't remember the answer to why it sparkles and stuff though.

[Tigra00]

I doscovered this when I was younger when I tried to be lazy and microwave pop-tarts. In the wrapper.

 

 

 

Needless to say, I didn't eat them.

 

 

 

It's the microwaved and the metal freakin' on eachother.

[ltb2006]

The reflective foil maybe?anyway looks good ha

[ThoseTheBrokes]

hold on, I think what he meant was, why does it shrink and everything still stay in proportion?

 

try it yourselves.

[Randox]

This happens if you put any metalic object (basicly any metal) in a microwave. And yes, the foil lining on that bag counts as a metal.

 

 

 

The microwaves ionize everything in there, and it's something to do with metals being conductors. Basicly charges start building up and you get mini lightning.

 

 

 

Note that this will cause at the least, permenent cosmetic damage, and at the most will fry the microwave generator. I wouldn't recomend trying it.

[Ambassadar]

Why do electric waves reflect from metal?

 

By the way, why are electric wave reflected from metal? One of the major properties of metals is that they are packed with electrons which can move freely. Because the electrons can carry current, metal is good conductor of electricity. The same thing happens in the case of alternating current. When electric waves hit the surface of metals, electrons near the surface of these metals are given the order to move. Since there are so many electrons on the surface, the electrons which receive the order from the electric wave move from side to side, thus preventing the electric wave from entering the metal (shielding effect). Thus, the electric wave is obliged to return. This is the reflection of an electric wave.

 

 

 

Some electrons which receive the order from the electric wave move too much, causing the electrons jump from inside metal into air. When the electrons which jump into air move to something which conducts electricity, this motion produces light (spark) or sound (pop!). This is electronic discharge.

 

 

 

 

 

Why is it dangerous to warm up metal by microwave? (from the physics point of view)

 

There is an instrument called a magnetron, which generates strong electric waves. The frequency of these waves is 2450MHz, which means that the wave vibrates 2.5 billion times per second. If metal is put inside microwave, the electronic discharge happens so intensively because electrons inside metal are accelerated by the strong electric wave. This also causes a bad influence on the microwave itself. There is sometimes thin metallic decoration on the surface of some coffee cups and dishes. Since the metal is so thin, we can think that all of the metal is surface. In such a case, all of the electrons in the metal run around so that abnormally high heat is generated, causing the metal itself to burn or melt.

 

 

 

Incidentally, water molecules have hardly any electrons which can move freely. However, because the whole molecule is shaken effectively (resonance) by the electric wave generated by a magnetron (this vibration is heat), water is heated up. The frequency of this vibration is just 2450MHz.

 

 

 

Why is it dangerous to warm up metal by microwave? (from the manufacturer point of view)

 

The following are the reasons from the manufacturer point of view why we ask users not to put metal in the microwave:

 

 

 

1.

 

 

 

If a metallic container is heated up in a microwave, many reflected waves are generated by the metal. The reflected waves return to the antenna of a magnetron, causing an increase in temperature. This causes the deterioration of the magnetron and generates electronic discharge easily, resulting in microwave failure.

 

 

 

2.

 

 

 

If a metallic container is close to the wall of a microwave, electronic discharge occurs between the wall and the metallic container, causing microwave to develop problems. Also, if this happens, users are surprised at the noise and the light, then they complain to the manufacturer. And so, we manufacturers prohibit the use of metallic containers in microwaves.

 

 

 

http://www.chemistryquestion.com/Englis ... metal.html

[r2d2]

hold on, I think what he meant was, why does it shrink and everything still stay in proportion?

 

try it yourselves.

 

It shrinks because the metal gets very hot, and then the plastic part starts to melt, and when you put a plastic bag or other thin plastic next to something hot, it shrivels up.

 

 

 

The sparks are just the current arcing.

[Poopingman]

God thats a messy microwave, look as if I did my business in it.

[runescapeloser22]

WHOOOOOA!!!!!!!!

 

That was sweet!

 

I have no idea why it does that, but I'm gonna do that later :XD:

[Lionheart_0]

Ya.... putting anything metallic in your microwave is such a good idea guys. It potentially can set on fire or explode.

 

 

 

Good luck.

[happybappy]

Try microwaving a candle.

[Verminox]

Apparently something happens when you put an egg in a microwave.

[TotalTalker]

Lol why does it say dont do this at home? It doesnt sem that dangerous.

 

 

 

Oh, and I dont know why that happens lol, maybe something that is put onto the crisp packet while its being made or something.

[Barihawk]

Microwave radiation hates metal. Try sticking a fork in there and watch the fireworks.

[Lionheart_0]

Microwaves react with watter. So put anything in there, and it basically tickles the water particals into jumping around, and the frictions is what makes your food hot.

 

 

 

Put metal in there... and I'm not sure what happens, but you will get bad stuff.

[wizarthas460]

the microwaves charge the metal parts in the wrap, so they will unleash some sort of lightning bolt to some parts of the paper that are different charged (+ and -). this will generate some heat that will melt the foil and let it shrink :

[nicrune007]

Try microwaving a candle.

 

 

 

I dont think it will catch fire :lol:

[icantcmyeye]

the reason metals do these things is because microwave radiation cannot pass through them, however it can create voltage in the outer levels of the electrons. The real danger of putting metal in the microwave is that the metal can reflect the microwaves right back into the magnatron (the device that makes the microwaves) and cause it to overheat or short circuit.

[Nanosauromo]

Microwave radiation hates metal. Try sticking a fork in there and watch the fireworks.

 

Nothing happens, brutha. I've done it countless times. Plus the Mythbusters busted this way back in season 1.

[indy500fan]

Since we are talking about putting stuff in microwaves, try putting a bar of soap in one.

[ltb2006]

Once i was reheating a cup of soup in a microwave and pressed a bunch of numbers to give it a couple of minutes before i stopped it. Of course i forgot about it came back about 40 mins later to find a glowing cup with a big crack right down the middle. :anxious:

[underu2000]

Once i was reheating a cup of soup in a microwave and pressed a bunch of numbers to give it a couple of minutes before i stopped it. Of course i forgot about it came back about 40 mins later to find a glowing cup with a big crack right down the middle. :anxious:

 

Hehe. The other day i tried microwaving cornbread and i ended up with thick white smoke and the fire detector blaring.