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Microwave is a type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths ranging from roughly one metre to one millimetre and frequencies ranging from 300 MHz to 300 GHz. Microwaves are defined differently by different sources; the wide definition above includes both UHF and EHF (millimetre wave) bands. The range between 1 and 100 GHz is a more frequent definition in radio-frequency engineering (wavelengths between 0.3 m and 3 mm). Microwaves must cover the whole SHF range (3 to 30 GHz, or 10 to 1 cm) in all instances. The IEEE radar band designations S, C, X, Ku, K, or Ka band, as well as corresponding NATO or EU designations, are used to describe microwave frequencies.
Electromagnetic spectrum
In the spectrum of electromagnetic waves, the electromagnetic spectrum is a range of frequencies, wavelengths, and photon energies ranging from below 1 hertz to above 1025 Hz, equivalent to wavelengths ranging from a few kilometres to a fraction of the size of an atomic nucleus. In general, electromagnetic waves in a vacuum tend to travel at rates similar to those of light. They do so, however, at a variety of wavelengths, frequencies, and photon intensities.
The electromagnetic spectrum encompasses all electromagnetic radiation and includes numerous subranges, which are referred to as parts. Infrared, visible light, and ultraviolet radiation are the three types of radiation.
Microwave
Microwaves are defined as electromagnetic radiations with a frequency ranging between 300 MHz to 300 GHz while the wavelength ranges from 1 mm to around 30 cm. Microwaves are the conventional name for microwave radiation. They are found between infrared and radio waves on the electromagnetic spectrum. Microwave ovens have the following features:
Microwaves are reflected off metal surfaces. Microwaves of a specific wavelength penetrate through the atmosphere and can be used to send and receive data from satellites in orbit. The result, because metal satellite dishes reflect microwaves well, they are used.
Water absorbs certain frequencies of microwaves. Microwaves have this characteristic, which is beneficial in the kitchen. Microwaves are absorbed by water in food, causing the water to heat up and cook the food.
Wave effects such as refraction, reflection, interference, and diffraction affect microwave transmission.
Microwaves are able to penetrate glass and plastic. Because metal reflects microwaves, we use plastic or glass containers in microwave ovens rather than metal canisters.
Composition of microwave
Microwaves are electromagnetic radiations such as UV rays, radio waves, and so on.
The wavelengths of these waves range from one metre to one millimetre, while the frequencies range from 1 GHz to 1000 GHz.
Applications of microwaves
Microwaves are used in a variety of real-world applications, including microwave ovens, radar systems, and measuring the speed of objects such as tennis balls, automobiles, and so on. Let’s talk about what microwaves are used for now.
Telecommunication:
Space communication, that is, communication from the earth to space and vice versa.
Telephones and television are available on a global scale.
Microwaves are utilised in railways for telemetry communication
Industries
In the food processing industry, microwaves are used.
Chemical industries, plastic industries, rubber industries, forest product-based businesses, and so on are some of the other sectors that use microwaves.
Microwave ovens that heat food use a frequency of 2.45 GHz and a power of 600 W.
Microwaves are employed in man-made public works projects such as breaking rocks, drying or breaking concrete, and curing cement, among other things.
It’s also used to dry cereals, medications, textiles, and leather, among other things.
Medical field
Microwaves are used in a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
They are utilised in the treatment of cancer patients via electromagnetic heating (Hyperthermia for treating cancer).
Microwaves can detect the amount of water in the lungs and are used to monitor heartbeat and if someone is suffering from a lung water condition.
Microwaves are also utilised in diathermy to heat a specific area of the skin.
Defence
Microwaves are used to monitor missiles as well as detect planes and other flying objects.
Microwaves are also used to calculate the distance between objects and their flight speed.
Microwave ovens are a practical application of microwaves. The oven’s cooking surface is made of ceramic glass. Metallic magnetron tubes, a waveguide, and a stirring fan are all found inside the oven.
Timer motors, switches, and relays, among other electromechanical components and controllers, are included.
The following materials are used in microwave cooking:
Cups made of paper
Cartons
Films for clinging
Thermoplastics, for example.
Miscellaneous microwave applications
To monitor the movement of the aero plane and handle air traffic in Air Traffic Control (ATC).
Speed detectors were used by the cops.
While sitting in the microwave-operated control room, monitor the movement of trains on rails.
Microwaves are utilised in radar systems for aircraft navigation in the military.
Tennis balls, cricket balls, and moving autos may all be detected using a microwave-based radar.
Weather trends are observed and analysed.
Garage door openers are a type of garage door opener.
In the development of microwave devices such as microwave ovens.
Combination microwave
Mix microwaves, sometimes known as combi microwaves, are kitchen gadgets that prepare food using a combination of microwave radiation, a grill, and fanned hot air (convection heating).
When these two processes are combined, we get a heat that can sauté, grill, bake, crisp, roast evenly, and brown our food. It’s the most effective way to combine microwave quickness with the high-quality finish of traditional oven cooking.
Conclusion
Microwaves move in a straight line, unlike lower-frequency radio waves, and do not diffract over hills, follow the earth’s surface as ground waves, or reflect from the ionosphere. As a result, terrestrial microwave communication links are limited to around 40 miles by the visual horizon (64 km). They are absorbed by gases in the atmosphere at the high end of the spectrum, limiting practical communication distances to roughly a kilometre.
More types of electromagnetic waves exist in nature, such as radio waves and microwaves, as well as gamma radiation, roentgen (or X-) radiation, and thermal radiation. The wavelengths of these waves can be used to classify them within the electromagnetic spectrum. Radio waves, for example, have longer wavelengths than microwaves.
