Physics inside a Microwave Oven.

Microwave ovens are designed to cook food and NOT to do scientific experiments. We do not recommend that you try anything described here yourself. If you do choose to do so, you are doing it at your own risk.

Normally, when food (water) is in the microwave, the radiation is continually absorbed, keeping the overall radiation levels low. Many of the following experiments required us to run the microwave nearly empty. Electromagnetic radiation (microwaves) can build up to high intensities. This can cause high levels of radiation to reflect back into the microwave generator causing it to overheat or to be damaged. Small leaks in the oven, otherwise harmless, may emit more radiation than usual and could potentially harm bystanders.

Now that you have been warned, lets start with the fun. This page and the photos and footage stem from the 1999 annual open house of the Ohio State University Physics Department. We performed the demos for a group of Ohio high school physics students.
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