Does It Make Food Radioactive?

Does it make food radioactive?

Remember, the waves only jiggle water molecules. Waves carry their energy in tiny particles, and one microwave particle has about one 500,000th of the energy needed to break the link between oxygen and hydrogen in a water molecule. So it can’t break or change molecules. Food does not become radioactive, and the waves vanish the moment the power is off.

Why?Throw as many ping-pong balls as you like at a brick, and it won’t break, because each ball is far too weak. One particle of X-ray energy is strong enough to break molecules, which is why X-rays can be harmful. Microwave particles are very weak. Food warms up because a huge number of them each jiggle molecules a little.

Learn moreThese particles of light and radio waves are called photons. Even a particle of violet light is about 310,000 times stronger than a microwave particle. Still, strong microwaves can heat your body, so never use an oven with a broken door.

One microwave particle ÷ breaking a water molecule

1 / 500,000

textbook formulas · example oven cavity 31.5 × 21 × 32.5 cm