Microwave ovens

[silver]

How do microwave ovens work?

[Isaacr]

Check out this weeks How it works articles, looks like someone has written a whole essay on the subject for you!

[michaeljimbo]

the waves from the machine agitate the molecules in the food,they rub against each other and the friction causes heat..ergo cooks

[Sensei]

Microwaves cause water molecules to vibrate. Heat is basically the amount that a molecule/atom is vibrating. (That's why a hot gas expands, or why an aerosol can gets cold when you use it for too long, it needs heat for the molecules to expand into a gas) So, the microwaves causing the molecules to vibrate IS the heat. No friction is involved.

[gregwithnail]

Sensei is absolutely right - sorry michael!
I was watching "Myth Busters" on TV last night, and hey made the same error!!