In my final year at university, I studied a module on laser measurement techniques as part of my mechanical engineering degree. During this module I learnt a lot about quantum physics, which forms the theory behind microwave ovens and global warming - understanding how microwave ovens work as it is the same phenomena that is causing global warming! So understanding how a microwave works leads to understanding global warming (which I feel is a subject poorly understood by the media and the populous alike). The maths that underpins the physics is really abstract (and difficult), so I’ll keep the explanation qualitative!
For me the key concept is to realise that every structure, natural or artificial, has a unique frequency that if ‘activated’ will cause that structure to resonate. A fine example of this is the Millennium Bridge – a harmonic of its natural frequency was ‘activated’ by sightseers walking over the bridge in step, thus causing it to resonate.
Molecules have discrete resonant frequencies too (this is the basis of quantum theory). When microwaves are ‘fired’ at water molecules (microwave radiation, not the ovens themselves!), they are at a specific frequency that excites water molecules only, causing them to vibrate. Since the temperature of a substance is simply the measure of how much the molecules of that substance are vibrating, any increase in vibration is an increase in temperature! As most foods are comprised largely of water molecules it is therefore possible to cook them with microwaves!
But what is the link to global warming? Well, it is well known that infrared or IR radiation (which is the ‘heat’ you feel from fires, light bulbs, etc.), along with increasing quantities of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, is responsible for global warming; and here’s why:
Greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide and methane) also have discrete resonant frequencies, but rather than being activated by microwave radiation, they are ‘activated’ by IR radiation, and (like the water molecules in food) the greenhouse gases begin to resonate. This ‘activation’ only occurs during the day while the sun is out, during the night the IR radiation is released (just as heat is released as the food from the microwave cools once the oven has gone ‘ping’) and about half is absorbed by the Earth’s surface (the other half is emitted into space). This process reached an equilibrium millions of years ago and is responsible for life as we know it.
Global warming, climate change, whatever you like to call it, is occurring because more and more greenhouse gases are present in the atmosphere, thus absorbing more and more IR radiation (that is vibrating more) and eventually causing the surface temperature to creep up! As sure as microwave ovens keep cooking food, greenhouse gases will keep absorbing and emitting IR radiation – that is a fact. What is not understood, is what the consequences are of the inevitable temperature increase – this is enough for me to believe that we should start reducing carbon emissions!
Molecules have discrete resonant frequencies too (this is the basis of quantum theory). When microwaves are ‘fired’ at water molecules (microwave radiation, not the ovens themselves!), they are at a specific frequency that excites water molecules only, causing them to vibrate. Since the temperature of a substance is simply the measure of how much the molecules of that substance are vibrating, any increase in vibration is an increase in temperature! As most foods are comprised largely of water molecules it is therefore possible to cook them with microwaves!
But what is the link to global warming? Well, it is well known that infrared or IR radiation (which is the ‘heat’ you feel from fires, light bulbs, etc.), along with increasing quantities of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, is responsible for global warming; and here’s why:
Greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide and methane) also have discrete resonant frequencies, but rather than being activated by microwave radiation, they are ‘activated’ by IR radiation, and (like the water molecules in food) the greenhouse gases begin to resonate. This ‘activation’ only occurs during the day while the sun is out, during the night the IR radiation is released (just as heat is released as the food from the microwave cools once the oven has gone ‘ping’) and about half is absorbed by the Earth’s surface (the other half is emitted into space). This process reached an equilibrium millions of years ago and is responsible for life as we know it.
Global warming, climate change, whatever you like to call it, is occurring because more and more greenhouse gases are present in the atmosphere, thus absorbing more and more IR radiation (that is vibrating more) and eventually causing the surface temperature to creep up! As sure as microwave ovens keep cooking food, greenhouse gases will keep absorbing and emitting IR radiation – that is a fact. What is not understood, is what the consequences are of the inevitable temperature increase – this is enough for me to believe that we should start reducing carbon emissions!
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