David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 28 Sep 2002 3:43 pm |
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b0b, sorry you closed this out before anyone got to the bottom of this. As a scientist of sorts, I can't help but try to explain this seeming miracle, even if it is way off topic (although someone once said my steel playing sounded like a couple of yard flies in a tin can). Vern Hester's explanation of ionizing radiation was fine, but doesn't explain how the fly survived the non-ionizing microwave radiation. Ed Packard got really close, but didn't quite finish driving the nail.
I think the answer is that the fly would have to remain near the center of the oven's plate to get enough microwave radiation to hurt it. The waves are concentrated there and are nil toward the walls and corners. Sometimes I put a stick of butter in to soften it up. If I leave it in too long, it melts at a small spot at the center of the stick, but the ends of the butter are still cold. Stick that fly on a piece of tape at the center, and I'll bet he wont last long.
Someone said the microwaves are calibrated for water molecules. That is correct, but the fly has plenty of water to get zapped. If you don't believe that, just squish one.
Let us know how the tape experiment works out - and if you try it, let us know how the hell you caught a live fly and stuck in on a piece of tape. |
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