• debounced@kbin.run
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    1 year ago

    and different parts of the body resonate at different frequencies…part of the reason ~2.4 GHz was picked for the common household microwave is water molecules resonate there (and other harmonically related frequencies too… it’s why a lot of the unlicensed ISM stuff is allocated there: crappy atmospheric propagation). also the necessary magnetron and waveguide for that freq is conveniently sized for a kitchen appliance and not too complicated.

    EDIT: see proper principle of operation in reply below

    • 30mag@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It is a common misconception that microwave ovens heat food by operating at a special resonance of water molecules in the food. Instead, microwave ovens heat by causing molecules to spin under the influence of a constantly changing electric field, usually in the microwave frequencies range, and a higher wattage power of the microwave oven results in faster cooking times.