microwaves

[rory 0]

hey, been a long time since i used one, just got a new one ..

 

is it normal for the microwave to have open vents, you know. I thought that means radiation gets out ..?? Or is this normal ..? Mine has a light and you can see the light through the vents in the bottom of the microwave, you can see the vents by the light and that is the inside of the microwave ..so its wide open ..any ideas dudes ..?

 

Just want to know if Im getting zapped or not ..!

 

thanks

 

rory

[rory 0]

hmm, just answered my own question, thanks to google ..

 

SDSTAFF Q.E.D. replies:

 

If you ask me, one of the cleverest parts of a microwave oven is the door. It lets you see into the oven to make sure your potato isn't about to explode, yet keeps your face from being cooked off by microwaves in the process. It accomplishes this remarkable feat with a metal mesh—basically a sheet of metal with a regular pattern of small holes drilled or punched in it. This, along with the metal material of the oven cavity itself, forms a sort of reverse Faraday cage. A Faraday cage is a metal enclosure that normally keeps electrostatic fields and RF (radio frequency) radiation from getting in, but in the case of the oven, from getting out.

 

A solid sheet of metal would be the most efficient at containing RF, but since you can't see through metal (unless you happen to be Superman), a compromise must be made. How much RF escapes through the mesh depends largely on two factors: the wavelength of the radiation in question, and the diameter of the holes. (For you picky types, the conductivity of the mesh material has a slight but negligible effect, as does the shape of the holes, among other things.) The shorter the wavelength of the RF, the smaller the holes need be to block the radiation. Microwave ovens operating at 2450 MHz emit radiation with a wavelength of about 12 centimeters, and the holes in the mesh of the door are typically on the order of 1-2 millimeters in diameter. Since the holes are small compared to the wavelength of the microwaves, little radiation can leak out. There are also mesh screens on the sides of the oven cavity, one to protect the oven light while allowing it to shine into the cavity, the other to permit ventilation.

[rory 0]

on the subject of radiation ..

 

how much does a TV put off? I got a PC Tube Monitor but that turns off, and a TV I leave on all night ..basically whenever im home ..efficiency appartment. What yall tink ..

[Thomas 0]

Not much radation, the sun is much more dangerous. So what happened to the Microwave Rory? Did you put a CD in it?

[rory 0]

nah just some bagel bits ..

[cctv_down_under 0]

what about my XDA2 Mini, I must say it feels like my ears are burning some times, is it safe to have that LCd against my head all day, and what of blue tooth?

[AVCONSULTING 0]

Rory, did they just introduce Microwave ovens into the Bahamas? I knew you guys were a little behind the rest of the world but didn't think it was that bad. Have you gotten fax machines and answering machines yet?

[rory 0]

yeah, they got all dose dred, but i aint had one in like 10 years myself ..i normally just buy out ..

 

i dont even have a phone where i live though .. and havent used a fax in years ...

[cctv_down_under 0]

Thats cool man, i havent cooked as meal in over 5 years!!

[Q.E.D. 0]

Hey, I wrote that Staff report! It's nice to see my work finding use helping people to find the answers to their questions.

 

--SDSTAFF QED, Straight Dope Science Advisory Board.

[rory 0]

Welcome and Thanks QED!!

 

it certainly helped

[scottj 0]

Q.E.D.,

 

Yeah thanks for the staff report, we know Rory will be safe from his Hot Pockets from now on.

[rory 0]

i gave up on the hot pockets, try the left over whoppers )