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 Strong Dipoles in the Liquid phase –Water - 1.87 –Methanol - 1.7 –Ethanol - 1.69 –Acetone - 2.88 Medium (Numbers given are dipole moments)

5. 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 Medium

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