Microwaves and Urban Myths

LordSplodge · 13 Nov 2012 at 15:43

groen said:
You should not stand and look in to a microwave due to this problem. The door usually has that black stuff on it but that does not help much. You can stand near it but i wouldn't put my face next to the window for whole 5 or 10 mins.

The door has 'this black stuff' inside it. You mean the mesh of metal that completes the Faraday cage?

You can stick your face right up against the door - nothing will happen.

I wonder how you managed to get a job in IT yet seemingly have little understanding of anything...

Conscript · 13 Nov 2012 at 15:46

I work with a guy who told me that his balls ache when he used his old microwave.

Pete19s · 13 Nov 2012 at 15:53

Conscript said:
I work with a guy who told me that his balls ache when he used his old microwave.

He isn't Randy Marsh by any chance?

Morbius · 13 Nov 2012 at 15:55

LordSplodge said:
You can stick your face right up against the door - nothing will happen.

There's a distinct danger of being mesmerised by the food spinning round.

needforspeed · 13 Nov 2012 at 17:08

Well I heard from a science teacher that a man who worked at a chip shop. He got his kidneys cooked. May be its something to do with water content?

Pestilence · 13 Nov 2012 at 18:10

Conscript said:
I work with a guy who told me that his balls ache when he used his old microwave.

oli collett · 13 Nov 2012 at 18:18

One thing that isn't a myth is that you can measure the speed of light using a mcrowave, a bar of chocolate, a ruler and a bit of arithmetic

BloodyL · 13 Nov 2012 at 18:27

oli collett said:
One thing that isn't a myth is that you can measure the speed of light using a mcrowave, a bar of chocolate, a ruler and a bit of arithmetic

Wouldn't it be more correct to say you can determine the value of c using those methods?

oli collett · 13 Nov 2012 at 18:33

BloodyL said:
Wouldn't it be more correct to say you can determine the value of c using those methods?

Fair point I guess!

Marky · 13 Nov 2012 at 18:36

If the microwave has been serviced well then it shouldn't be leaking at all. In a kitchen service we always take a reading of the leakage from a Microwave. Most times the reading is so minimal you won't have to worry about it

There are safety mechanisms on all microwaves that make it impossible for you to open the door and the microwaves to continue to transmit.

Morbius · 13 Nov 2012 at 18:45

Marky said:
If the microwave has been serviced well then it shouldn't be leaking at all. In a kitchen service we always take a reading of the leakage from a Microwave. Most times the reading is so minimal you won't have to worry about it

Exactly. It's a tiny amount but you'll always get a tiny amount because there's no such thing as a perfect faraday cage. Sometimes it can interfere with 2.4 GHz wireless products, particularly if they're in close proximity to the microwave.

One · 13 Nov 2012 at 19:16

Microwaves can't fit though a mm gap hence the mesh on the window bit.

Tom_ed1987 · 13 Nov 2012 at 19:24

Any leakage will be due to the door interface being misaligned or damaged. No microwaves will leak through the mesh on the door - it is as good as a solid panel.

Fun experiment: Take it apart, build a ~1ft long horn waveguide, mount it to the magnetron, and enjoy disabling electronic items at 10m.

SexyGreyFox · 13 Nov 2012 at 20:19

trixilux said:
Anyone got any ideas on this? Genuinely interested

I worked at Creda/Hotpoint for 27 years and we built microwave ovens.
I can guarantee that not one of the testers ever cooked their insides and all units were tested.
They did have an hand held device which tested for radiation and results were wrote down.

Tefal · 13 Nov 2012 at 20:34

trixilux said:
Is there any evidence of microwave leakage?

soround your microwave with glases of water with thermometers if the temp rises abvoe roo mtemp the yes it's leaking

Housey · 13 Nov 2012 at 20:38

Dimple said:
They did have an hand held device which tested for radiation and results were wrote down.

Did they use their BIG hand?

SexyGreyFox · 13 Nov 2012 at 20:49

Housey said:
Did they use their BIG hand?

Don't be stupid, they used their 3rd hand.

cainer · 13 Nov 2012 at 21:01

jimbob27 said:
you will be exposed to the microwaves which aren't very good for you. IIRC it's the wrong type of radiation to cause cancer

thats BS, proof here...

One · 13 Nov 2012 at 21:03

Tefal said:
soround your microwave with glases of water with thermometers if the temp rises abvoe roo mtemp the yes it's leaking

Microwaves aren't very efficient. They'll be emitting IR radiation that will warm the glasses of water.

oli collett · 13 Nov 2012 at 21:42

oli collett said:
One thing that isn't a myth is that you can measure the speed of light using a mcrowave, a bar of chocolate, a ruler and a bit of arithmetic

By coincidence, they're doing this on BBC2 at the moment but with cheese on toast!