Fifth Grade
Worksheets
How Do Microwaves Work?
Microwaves are waves of invisible energy. Inside a microwave oven, microwaves are made when electricity passes through a device called a magnetron. You might guess that a magnetron uses a strong magnet. The electricity and the magnet make electromagnetic energy. This energy is in the form of microwaves. Microwaves are very much like radio waves.
There's a spinning fan inside the microwave oven. It sends the microwaves in all directions. The microwaves pass through the food container into the food. Microwaves cannot pass through metal. They bounce off the metal sides of the oven and pass through the food over and over again. Most microwaves have a turntable inside. The turntable slowly spins the food around while it cooks. This helps the food cook evenly on all sides.
As the microwaves pass into the food, the energy hits water molecules that are inside the .....
