1. Introduction: You’re Gonna Do What with my Microwave?!?
Test the microwave absorption of various substances
Offer an Explanation
Look at Other Cool Things that Could Be Done
Waylon Flinn, Spring 2001

2. Microwaves: from the Kitchen to the Laboratory
Things that Don’t Work
Metal
Wood
Plastic
Things that Do
Water

3. So What’s Going On Electromagnetic Interaction: The Dipole Moment
Electrical Interaction and Rotational Freedom _ + _ +

4. Further Investigation
Medium
Further Investigation
Strong Dipoles in the Liquid phase
Water
Methanol
Ethanol
Acetone
(Numbers given are dipole moments)

5. Non-absorption: Hey, is this Thing Broken or What?
Medium
Non-absorption: Hey, is this Thing Broken or What?
The Aforementioned: Non-Dipoles, Metals and Complex Structures
Metal
Wood
Plastic
Other Stuff
Ice
Polyurethane
Water

6. Conclusion: Don’t Try This at Home.
The Key is a Good Apparatus
I wish I had one
Electrical Properties + Rotation/Deformation + ? + … = Absorption
Still some cool things to try