Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!tektronix!hplabs!sri-unix!JGA@MIT-MC.ARPA From: JGA@MIT-MC.ARPA Newsgroups: net.physics Subject: Behavior of macaroni in a microwave oven? Message-ID: <426@sri-arpa.ARPA> Date: Fri, 19-Jul-85 09:39:11 EDT Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.426 Posted: Fri Jul 19 09:39:11 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 22-Jul-85 00:00:51 EDT Lines: 21 From: John G. Aspinall Article-I.D.: <356@utastro.UUCP> ... One of the problems with older microwaves or cheaper models was the formation of standing waves with their attendant nodes (areas of little or no energy). In the early days, this problem was treated with the Deluxe Carousel models of microwave (shades of fifties technology!). I'd like to say that I know how they handle the problem today, but, alas, I don't. I believe the problem is solved by installing a small metal fan in the top to scatter the microwaves. Ethan Vishniac Ethan is, as usual, right. To elaborate just a little; any cavity, no matter what the shape, will have standing waves as long as reflection at the boundaries is large compared to absorbtion. (Just think about conservation of energy to convince yourself of this in an approximate way.) So the solution is to continually change the shape of the cavity.