I know, we have all done it.

Put a cup, with a gilded edge into a microwave and watched with awe at the pyrotechnics and heard the accompanying cracks and bangs, as the lightening bolts flashed off the metallic artistry.

Oh yes, what an idiot.

I was told not to put anything matallic into a microwave oven.

Ah. But. Wait a minute. There is something not just quite right here.

Isn't the interior of the microwave oven METALLIC?

Can anyone explain this? (That is, without making me look an absolute idiot.)

Find the answer in:
http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-cant-metal-objects-go-in-the-microwave

Magnetron? Metal inside oven reflects microwaves?

Doesn't tell me why a fork or spoon can cause a fire, yet the metal interior does nothing. It might, in some hidden hieroglyphics, explain the issue, but Egyptian historian I am not. Ha ha ha.

I have recently discovered that stainless steel is NOT magnetic. Could that be part of the answer?

Maybe not. Aluminium foil is also NOT magnetic, but can cause a massave electric storm in your microwave oven, if you forget to remove it before starting to cook.

Whilst I'd never do this in my own home.
..
It is amazingly entertaining, to do in
the microwave ovens at convenience stores.

Microwave magnetrons emit microwaves in a distinctive wave pattern that bounce around inside the oven in a predetermined cycle. The size and the shape of the inside of the oven have a lot to do with this. Introducing a reflective material such as iron, steel, or aluminum foil disrupt the pattern and basically short circuit the waves.

Ah, I think I am getting it. The shape of the interior is part of the microwave operation. That would never have occurred to me.

Thank you.

Would you believe that I worked for British MOD on nothing less than microwave wave guides. (I worked on User Guides, in the PERT department. Nothing scientific.)

This is a strange thread... But, I am weirdly entertained by it


I don't like microwaves or microwaved food. I just use them to melt marshmallows and that's it.

Eons ago I worked with RADAR. I still remember that a bend in a wave guide has to be 1/4 of the wave length.

Wanna see something cool? Put a CD or DVD in the microwave.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a_YKVf5Wls

If you can now give an explanation for your initial ponderment, i.e. why the metallic inner surface of the oven is not adversely affected by the microwaves, please do so.

Micro waves in an oven are high frequency but fairly low power. They bounce off metallic items with no effect. I suppose if you boosted the power quite a bit the metal would heat up.

When is the Rock & Tom YouTube video
" I wonder what would happen if we put this in" , being released?

Yes, but from the original poster's response to my post, I'm not sure he is satisfied with the answer.

Oh your reply was exact. Just not in a form that my simple mind was able to absorb. I have always been a slave to everything being broken down into individual parts. When it comes to science or mechanics, I have to have the information spoonfed to me.

A mate of mine's bro in law is a chef...he has 2 microwave...one does not work and sits on top of the working one....after his restaurant closed for the evening, he had to put away the takings for the night as he did not wish to take it home and stashed it in the non working microwave sitting on top of the working microwave and
Then he decided to reheat some food for a quick snack (chefs are allowed to do this) anywayýyyy he used bottom microwave and 2 mins later his snack was ready...he ate...shut down the kitchen and went home
Next morning he went to retrieve the previous nights takings to be banked before opening for business
the cash..all banknotes...had melted into one ball
Luckily for him he was able to claim insurance and has since disposed of non working nuke machine and found a much much more secure place for his takings
True story from Sweden..made the headlines over there....silly boy 🤣🤣🤣

a weblink?