"Peter Hucker" wrote in message
newsp.tmvmiiqt4buhsv@fx62...
On Sat, 27 Jan 2007 01:38:36 -0000, colin
wrote:

"Peter Hucker" wrote in message
newsp.tmrzqxxk4buhsv@fx62...
On Wed, 24 Jan 2007 14:53:25 -0000, Snap Whipcrack..............
wrote:

Peter Hucker wrote:
On Tue, 23 Jan 2007 16:49:43 -0000, Snap Whipcrack..............
wrote:

Peter Hucker wrote:
Is it really true that turning on a microwave with nothing in it
will
break it?

Even more worrying - will it catch fire or explode?

Don't they have a safety cutout? Can't it sense the Klystron
overheating, or a build up of microwaves over a certain level?

I have purchased a new microwave which has an easier to grab
control.
I'm concerned one of my pet parrots will switch it on! (Seriously, they
do
stuff like that)

Microwave ovens don't care what you put inside. They do not have
feedback loops. You can cook a raisin or a melon or nothing at
all.

But where do you think the power ends up if it is not absorbed?

It dissipates. Where do you think the microwave transmitters on
mountain
tops power ends up? It doesn't go round and round the earth forever.

It's absorbed into water, in lakes for example.

A closed microwave has nothing that can absorb it.

The glass tray will usually absorb some of the microwave, basically when
its
empty the electric field builds up to such a high value that it
eventually
gets absorbed by something somewhere, or it ends up disipating in
sparking
wich can be quite spectacular if have two bits of unconnected metal
close to
eachother.

Brainiac Science Abuse (TV program) put a set of five swinging balls (one
of them office toys) in a microwave on its own. The microwave exploded
spectacularly after less than a minute. Can you explain that?

From what ive seen of braniac they probably filled it with something that
would explode spectacularly.
I wonder what the balls were made of, something explosive perhaps ?
ordinary flour or paper dust can make a very good explosive if mixed with
air.

Colin =^.^=