What is the principle behind the working of a microwave oven?
A microwave oven cooks food using microwaves, a form of electromagnetic radiation. These microwaves are produced by an electronic component called a magnetron. When you start the oven, the magnetron takes electricity from the power outlet and converts it into high-powered, 12cm radio waves. Microwaves inside the oven are reflected off the metal interior and absorbed by water molecules in the food. Water molecules are polar, meaning they have a positive and a negative end. As the microwaves pass through the food, they make the water molecules vibrate rapidly. This rapid vibration produces heat, which cooks the food. This is why microwave ovens cook foods that contain water much faster than other items.