Beakman's World
The Wonder of Microwaves
Beakman explains how microwaves work by first explaining what electromagnetic energy is, that it travels in waves, and how to measure wavelength. He then using an animation clip to show how a microwave works to heat up water.
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Video Transcript
0:00
damn Beekman
0:01
how does the microwave oven
0:03
what
0:04
oh
0:05
well dear Mike and Steve
0:07
here's how a microwave oven Works
0:09
fast
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I am hot
0:12
next letter
0:15
oh you want a better answer right
0:19
back
0:20
longer
0:21
more interesting
0:23
more mama mama
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hey
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I got it
0:25
what say we answered a microwave question by demonstrating with our faith
0:30
great food friend
0:31
Pizza
0:33
we're getting ahead of ourselves here Lester
0:36
before I can explain how a microwave oven works
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I have to explain something called
0:42
electromagnetic
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energy
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electromagnetic energy
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the entire range of radiation extending frequency proximity from 10 to the 23rd power Hertz 20 Hertz
1:00
and including
1:01
cosmic rays
1:03
light waves microwaves
1:06
gamma rays x-rays ultraviolet rays and
1:12
mother raised
1:16
fascinating
1:17
but all you've got to know is that electromagnetic energy is
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all around us all the time
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no matter where we are
1:27
I don't like Madonna what are you
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except
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you can't see it
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or feel it
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or
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smell it
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kind of not like Madonna
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here's the electroscope and nothing about electromagnetic energy
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we use it everyday
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in lots
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and lots of different ways like eating my Pizza
1:47
in the microwave
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hey
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you can use electromagnetic energy Lester yes
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but
1:55
there are plenty of others
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like when you listen to the radio
2:00
or
2:00
watch TV
2:02
or get nailed for speeding by radar
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please
2:07
step
2:08
away from the rap
2:10
or even when you use your eyes
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light is one kind of electromagnetic energy
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how do you think electromagnetic energy travels Lester
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Planes Trains and Automobiles
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good title
2:24
lousy answer
2:26
electromagnetic energy travels in
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waves
2:30
if we could see an electromagnetic wave part of it would look like this
2:36
the distance between the waves crests the tops of the bumps
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is how we measure the waves
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it's all
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the wavelength yeah
2:44
wavelength hey real interesting but you see if I could just pop this baby into the microwave and they can actually see the waves in action
2:55
Lester Esther come on this is amazing stuff
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the what's the difference between the light you used to see
3:03
the signals that are broadcast on the radio
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and the microwaves that heat Lester's pizza
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oh
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simple
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the only
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difference is how long the waves are
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hey look
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Madame Curie
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how
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with you
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but I
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but
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now that we know what a microwave is
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let's talk about how it works
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let's say I want to heat up
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a pizza
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not yet
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let's start with something simple
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like
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a cup
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of water
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why does it heat up so fast you ask
3:49
hey
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let's sneak a peek
3:51
on the scope
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this little Gizmo is called a magnetron
3:57
it sends out a beam of microwave
4:00
the waves bounce off this fan and land everywhere in the oven
4:04
when they hit water
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they're just the right wavelength to get the water molecules moving around really fast
4:10
and that makes water
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hot
4:13
yes thought while you drink your tea
4:16
I'll put the pizza in the oven
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hey good idea
4:19
all right
4:20
wait a minute wait a minute I almost forgot
4:23
there's this really neat thing I want to show you with the microwave
4:26
this is a special light bulb call a fluorescent bulb
4:30
now I could plug it in
4:31
but instead I'm going to use microwave energy to light it up
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this only works with a fluorescent bulb
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you know
4:40
safety experts set all this up for me
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this is not something you should try at home this is for professionals only
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you shouldn't ever
4:50
ever place
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any object in a microwave oven
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other than food it could be very very dangerous believe me okay
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now
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check this out
5:06
neat huh
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little pepperoni on it
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lights up
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because microwaves are just the right length to excite the plus four particles coating
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the inside of a fluorescent bulb
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when those particles get excited they give off
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light Bateman I am speechless I'm also foodless
5:28
okay okay Lester mm wrapping up
5:31
so Mike and Steve
5:33
from Erie PA now you know
5:35
that a microwave oven works because of
