The 411 - Microwaves

 

Microwaves are a type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between 1 millimeter and 1 meter, which fall between infrared radiation and radio waves on the electromagnetic spectrum. They are commonly used in communication, cooking, and scientific research.

Microwaves are generated using a device called a magnetron, which produces high-frequency electromagnetic waves by passing an electric current through a magnetic field. The microwaves are then directed into a metal cavity, which resonates at the same frequency as the microwaves, amplifying and focusing them into a concentrated beam.

Microwaves are used for a wide range of applications, including communication (such as satellite and cellular phones), cooking (microwave ovens), radar (used in aviation and weather forecasting), and scientific research (such as studying the cosmic microwave background radiation). They are also used in industrial processes such as drying, curing, and sterilization.

Source: ChatGPT