Specifications

Ver SG 9/200 7 Sharp Electronics Corporation
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How Does Microwave Energy Produce Heat?
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All matter is made up of atoms and molecules. Some of these molecules are electrically
neutral, that is they have no electrical charge. Carbon tetrachloride, benzene and paraffin
wax are examples of electrically neutral materials and microwave energy will pass
through these compounds as if they weren’t present.
Most matter, however, is not electrically neutral, and when an electrical field is applied
the molecules tend to behave like microscopic magnets and attempt to line up with the
field. However, when the electric field is changing millions of times each second, these
molecular magnets are unable to keep up because of other forces acting to slow them
down, known as friction. Such forces which restrict their movement may be mechanical
such as is the case with ice or solid fats, or viscous as the case with a syrup like molasses.
The energy of the microwaves in trying to overcome these forces is converted to heat. In
a sense the material converts the energy to heat, or it might be said that the material heats
itself.