Lieutenant Scott wrote
Rod Speed wrote
Lieutenant Scott wrote
Rod Speed wrote
Lieutenant Scott wrote

Then if the microwaves aren't absorbed, they bounce around and come back to the magnetron where they're absorbed
by the ballast or whatever it's called.

Not clear what you mean there.

As I understand it, there is a hole at the side of the oven cavity.
Behind that hole is a magnetron that produces microwaves,

Yes.

and next to it something to absorb any microwaves which happen to bounce back in there, so they don't damage the
magnetron. There's some kind of T shaped thing between them to direct the microwaves the right way.

I dont believe there is now.

Now if the ballast can't absorb all the power the magnetron can produce (which would happen if there is no water in
the oven to absorb any), then something will catch fire.

So it makes much more sense to measure what gets reflected
and cut back what the magnetron is producing instead.

And thats the way its done.

And it doesnt cost much to do that.

I thought there was always some reflection

Yes, thats why you MEASURE what gets reflected.

(the waves that happened to hit the hole before the food), and magnetrons hated even the smallest amount coming back.

No, that last isnt right.