MICROWAVES

Submitted by:
RECHELLE O. TUBIASO
BS Chem. 4

Submitted to:
MA. LOURDES C. ALVAREZ
Professor
Microwaves are a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths ranging from one meter
to one millimeter; with frequencies between 300 MHz (100 cm) and 300 GHz (0.1 cm). This
broad definition includes both UHF and EHF (millimeter waves), and various sources use
different boundaries. In all cases, microwave includes the entire SHF band (3 to 30 GHz, or 10 to
1 cm) at minimum with RF engineering often restricting the range between 1 and 100 GHz (300
and 3 mm).
Microwaves s are a type of electromagnetic c radiation, as are radio waves, ultraviolet
radiation, X- rays and gamma-rays. Microwaves have a range of applications, including
communications, radar and, perhaps best known by most people, cooking.
Microwaves have frequencies ranging from about 1 billion cycles per second, or 1 gigahertz
(GHz), up to about 300 gigahertz and wavelengths of about 30 centimeters30 centimeters (12
inches) to 1 millimeter (0.04 inches), according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. This region is
further divided into a number of bands, with designations such as L, S, C, X and K, according to
Ginger Butcher's book "Tour of the Electromagnetic Spectrum."

Communications & radar

Microwaves are used mostly for point-to-point communications systems to convey all types
of information, including voice, including voice, data and video in both analog and digital
formats, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). They are also used for
supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) for remote machinery, switches, valves and
signals.
Another important application of microwaves is radar. The word "radar" was originally an
acronym for Radio Detection and Ranging. Prior to World War II, British radio engineer found
that short-wavelength radio waves could be bounced off distant objects like ships and aircraft,
and the returning signal could be detected with highly sensitive directional antennas so the
presence and locations of those objects could be determined.be determined. Usage of the term
"radar" has become so common that it is now a word in and of itself, and can refer to systems
that use microwaves or radio waves.

Microwave heat sources

One of the most common uses of microwaves is to heat food quickly. Microwave ovens are
possible because microwaves can be used to transmit thermal energy. The discovery of this
phenomenon was purely accidental. In his book, (HarperCollins, 1992), author Ira Flatow
recounts the story of the invention of the microwave oven: "Shortly after World War II, Percy L.
Spencer, an electronics genius and war hero, was touring one of his laboratories at the
Raytheon Company. Spencer stopped in front of a magnetron, the power tube that drives a
radar set. Suddenly he noticed that a candy bar in his pocket had begun to melt." Further
investigation led him to make the first batch of microwave popcorn as well as the first
exploding egg.

Natural microwave sources

According to the NASA Science website, "In 1965, using long, L-band microwaves, Arno Penzias
and Robert Wilson, scientists at Bell Labs, made an incredible discovery quite by accident: They
detected background noise using a special low-noise antenna. The strange thing about the
noise was that it was coming from every direction and did not seem to vary in intensity much at
all. If this static were from something on our planet, such as radio transmissions from a nearby
airport control tower, it would come only from one direction, not everywhere. The Bell Lab
scientists soon realized that they had serendipitously discovered the cosmic microwave
background radiation. This radiation, which fills the entire universe, is a clue to its beginning,
known as the Big Bang."

Uses of Microwaves
Medicine:
In some case, microwaves relieve symptoms better than drugs. The use of microwaves is safer
than surgery. For example, the wave can heat enlarged prostates, therefore killing extra tissue.

Industry:
Microwaves can decrease air pollutants, disinfect hospital waste, improve dry cleaning solvents,
and clean up contaminated soil.
Science:
Satellite communications have used microwaves in the past. Scientists use microwaves to make
chalcopyrite, a semi-conductor, made of copper. Microwaves can also be used to remove
materials, and chemicals that can be used analysis.
Consumer goods:
Microwave ovens are used to heat and re-heat food evenly by agitating water molecules in
food. Some burglar alarms send continuous microwaves (short radio waves) into an area. Any
movement in that area disturbs the wave pattern and sets off the alarm.
Communication:
Microwaves are used in cellular phones, telephones, telegraphs, television, and satellites.

Application of Microwaves

Applications of Microwave
 Telecommunication
o Space communication (earth to space & space to earth)

o Intercontinental telephone & TV

o Telemetry communication link for railways

 Industrial Applications
o Food processing industries

o Microwave oven (2.45 GHz, 600 W)

 o Plastic Industries, Chemical Industries, Rubber Industries, forest product based
industries

References
www.livescience.com/50258-microwaves.html
https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwave