The Power of a Microwave Oven

Physics 1
Research Assignment

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Contents
1. Cover
2. Contents
3. Summary Of The Findings
4. References

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Both of the experiments that I conducted are fundamentally important, in
relations with physics, as physics is the foundation for most modern
technology. We are living in a technologically advanced age in which the
average person relies on technology without understanding how that
technology works. By carrying out these experiments, I obtained a better
understanding of the physics behind a microwave. The following essay will
summarize my findings on the efficiency of the microwave oven and the
measured speed of light.

Experiment one was repeated three times to work out an overall average of
the measured values. The controlled variables for included mass, initial
temperature and time exposed to microwave. Mass was 80ml/0.08kgs of
water, the initial temperature of water, at tap temperature, was 23*C and all
were run in the oven for 30seconds. Trial one was placed in the centre of the
turntable and had a final temperature 63*C. Trial two was placed in the
middle of the centre and edge of the turn table, which had an end result of
55*C. Trial three got placed on the outer edge of the turntable and had a final
temperature of 63.5*C. The resultant final temperature of the water was
averaged out, which worked to be 60.5*C. By obtaining a final temperature
and initial temperature, I was able to work out the amount of energy
converted into heat energy.

The results were substituted into the equation:

Q= mc(Tfinal – Tinitial), and gave an end result of 12540J that was converted
into heat energy. My findings of the electrical energy used by the microwave
came to 36,000J, which was found by multiplying power rating by the time
the microwave oven was turned on for. Obtaining both of the values allowed
myself to work out the percentage efficiency, which came to 65.5%.

Experiment two aimed at measuring the speed of light and comparing it to

the known speed of light. As we know, microwave ovens generate
electromagnetic waves to make particles move and how this motion leads to
friction, which then leads to heating the product. The wavelengths of the
microwave were measured on a melting chocolate bar. By measuring one
melting point to another, this gave me the product of half a wavelength.
Evidently a full wavelength was double the measured value, which was 12cm.
The speed of light from the microwave was determined by multiplying the
frequency of the microwave oven, by the full wavelength that was measured.
The measured speed of light was 2.94 x 10^10 cm/s-1. The percentage error
of my results worked out to be 1.93% off the known speed of light.

From these results I can conclude that it is more efficient to do multiple small
batches than one big one, as the wavelengths produced by the microwave
have to some extent “cold” spots. It also appears that it is more efficient to run
the microwave longer, which is most likely due to the microwave emitter
warming up the products inside it. Microwave ovens benefits, in terms of
their speed and convenience, also outweigh their low percentage efficiency.

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References
1. http://www.cnet.com/au/news/appliance-science-the-tasty-
physics-of-microwave-ovens/ (2016)

2. https://van.physics.illinois.edu/qa/listing.php?id=821

3. http://globalmicrowave.org/microwave-radio-frequencies/

4. http://www.explainthatstuff.com/microwaveovens.html