How do u explain this

[quinah]

I have a stainless steel microwave, what has REALLY been bugging me is this : If the inside of my microwave is stainless steel, howcome it doesn't cause little bolts of lightning inside, as it would if I put a metal object inside? Please answer this for me someone, its been driving me nuts for months!

[ll_billym]

Putting it very simply, if you switch your microwave on with NOTHING in it then you will get exactly the same results as if you put something metal in it. The arcing will be inside the workings of the microwave oven rather than from the metal object to the sides of the oven. You probably won't see this internal arcing and it will only last as long as to fry the innards and stop the oven from working. However, if you have some food or liquid inside the microwave then the energy emitted by the microwave is absorbed by the food and no harm is done. The stainless steel sides do not even enter the process. Hope you still have a microwave left!!

[undercovers]

so why can't i put a metal bowl full of rice/ water/pudding etc in the mircowave - by that argument shouldn't the food absorb the wave and mean that the fact there is a metal bowl in there not matter

[Laura-sakura]

I don't think you lot actually read that question. Quinah is saying that the inside of their microwave is made of metal, so why dosen't it cause sparks as it would if you put a metal object inside. Im sure Quinah is not microwaving thin air for fun.

[quinah]

no i am not microwaving thin air for fun, as the above person has correctly identified, I want to know why the METAL INTERIOR of my microwave does not cause sparks to fly

[ll_billym]

Most metal reflects microwaves. The oven cavity is specially designed for the job it does, i.e. the metal walls will reflect microwaves in the correct manner to heat the food or liquid in the middle of them (door included). If you put something metal in the oven cavity then this will disrupt the correct flow of charged ions (microwaves), this will will cause arcing between the metal object and the oven walls whether or not there is food or liquid in there as well. If you have nothing in the oven then the charge will build up until an arc is created between the walls of the oven (not inside as I previously stated).

[quinah]

Ahh billyrn, thankyou so much, it all makes sense now, I can't tell you how long I have been trying to work it out! Once again thank you