The Naked Scientists
  • Login
  • Register
  • Podcasts
      • The Naked Scientists
      • eLife
      • Naked Genetics
      • Naked Astronomy
      • In short
      • Naked Neuroscience
      • Ask! The Naked Scientists
      • Question of the Week
      • Archive
      • Video
      • SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
  • Articles
      • Science News
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Answers to Science Questions
  • Get Naked
      • Donate
      • Do an Experiment
      • Science Forum
      • Ask a Question
  • About
      • Meet the team
      • Our Sponsors
      • Site Map
      • Contact us

User menu

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Help
  • Search
  • Tags
  • Recent Topics
  • Login
  • Register
  1. Naked Science Forum
  2. General Science
  3. General Science
  4. ants in a microwave
« previous next »
  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Down

ants in a microwave

  • 8 Replies
  • 8095 Views
  • 0 Tags

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

This topic contains a post which is marked as Best Answer. Press here if you would like to see it.

paul.fr

  • Guest
ants in a microwave
« on: 09/04/2007 10:58:22 »
i heard the other day, that if an ant was in your microwave and you turned it on it would not get cooked! Is this true? If it is how does the ant manage to avoid the hot spots?
Logged
 



Offline Karen W.

  • Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • *****
  • 31886
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 41 times
  • "come fly with me"
ants in a microwave
« Reply #1 on: 09/04/2007 12:43:24 »
Does he crawl quickly into one if the vents behind the lights?? Then become protected by the cover that is protecting the light bulb?
Logged

"Life is not measured by the number of Breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
 

another_someone

  • Guest
ants in a microwave
« Reply #2 on: 09/04/2007 16:52:05 »
I am rather dubious about the notion that ants will not get cooked in the microwave (although it does rather depend on what else is in the microwave that is possibly preferentially absorbing the microwaves).

Nothing to do with ants, but here are grapes being cooked in a microwave:

YouTube - Grape Microwave Plasma

Logged
 

paul.fr

  • Guest
ants in a microwave
« Reply #3 on: 09/04/2007 17:45:10 »
Quote from: another_someone on 09/04/2007 16:52:05
I am rather dubious about the notion that ants will not get cooked in the microwave (although it does rather depend on what else is in the microwave that is possibly preferentially absorbing the microwaves).

well i could not understand why they would not get cooked either, i have also heard that cockroaches do not get cooked!


Quote from: another_someone on 09/04/2007 16:52:05
Nothing to do with ants, but here are grapes being cooked in a microwave:

YouTube - Grape Microwave Plasma



i posted that as an experiment, last week i think. thanks for the link, George
Logged
 

another_someone

  • Guest
ants in a microwave
« Reply #4 on: 09/04/2007 23:40:39 »
My suspicion is that the idea that insects cannot be heated by microwaves is because the insects are smaller than the wavelength of the microwave radiation, and so cannot absorb the electrical energy of the microwave.

If it was acting just as a radio antenae, then that would be correct; but as I understand it, such a limitation would not apply to the dielectric heating that is caused by the interaction of the microwaves with water molecules.
Logged
 



Offline JimBob

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ********
  • 6543
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 9 times
  • Moderator
ants in a microwave
« Reply #5 on: 10/04/2007 01:34:59 »
I have roaches - this is the arid subtropical zone I live in - and the roaches that are fool enough to get into the microwave under the revolving "plate" get zapped just as easily as food. This includes the smallest baby ones. I would imagine ants would do the same.
Logged
The mind is like a parachute. It works best when open.  -- A. Einstein
 

Offline neilep

  • Withdrawnmist
  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 21211
  • Activity:
    1%
  • Thanked: 119 times
ants in a microwave
« Reply #6 on: 12/04/2007 00:15:51 »
What about putting an Aunt in a microwave ?..I have one I'd dearly like to show the inside of my oven !!
Logged
Men are the same as Women, just inside out !
 

Offline Karen W.

  • Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • *****
  • 31886
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 41 times
  • "come fly with me"
ants in a microwave
« Reply #7 on: 12/04/2007 02:28:06 »
LOL..LOL HEE HEE..
Logged

"Life is not measured by the number of Breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
 

Marked as best answer by on Today at 04:08:31

Offline Seany

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 4207
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 1 times
  • Live your life to the full!
  • Undo Best Answer
  • ants in a microwave
    « Reply #8 on: 12/04/2007 10:56:10 »
    Quote from: JimBob on 10/04/2007 01:34:59
    I have roaches - this is the arid subtropical zone I live in - and the roaches that are fool enough to get into the microwave under the revolving "plate" get zapped just as easily as food. This includes the smallest baby ones. I would imagine ants would do the same.


    Ugh.. that's sick.. Do you put your food as well? and the roaches guts all spit on your food?
    Logged
    They say that when you die, your life flashes in front of you. Make it worth watching!
     



    • Print
    Pages: [1]   Go Up
    « previous next »
    Tags:
     
    There was an error while thanking
    Thanking...
    • SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
      Privacy Policy
      SMFAds for Free Forums
    • Naked Science Forum ©

    Page created in 0.446 seconds with 46 queries.

    • Podcasts
    • Articles
    • Get Naked
    • About
    • Contact us
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Subscribe to newsletter
    • We love feedback

    Follow us

    cambridge_logo_footer.png

    ©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2017 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.