Nodes and anti-nodes in microwave ovens?

Post by **Dalton** » 2006-02-22 12:26pm

Ever since I took a physics class on acoustics years ago for my major, I've never placed food in the microwave in the exact center. The reason for this is because my professor mentioned something about nodes in microwave ovens; that if you placed food in the exact center of the microwave, parts of it might not be fully cooked because the water molecules around the nodes wouldn't be heated up, so you should put food off-center so that it wouldn't keep passing through the nodes.

Is there truth to this, or is it a myth?

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2006-02-22 12:29pm

I don't recall ever having that problem. Though I tend to go by the microwave cooking philosophy that if you leave it running long enough it'll be thoroughly cooked eventually.

drachefly · Post by **drachefly** » 2006-02-22 01:29pm

The microwave oven designers try to avoid putting a node in the center. However, nodes will occur around the sides. This is why the food is rotated -- it will get a sampling of various phase combinations. Some will be nodes. Most will not.

nightmare · Post by **nightmare** » 2006-02-28 10:22am

Just about all microwaves have a rotating disc in them now. If you should ever encounter the old type without one, you can run it half time and place the food differently before finishing. If you ever encounter that your food is cold in one end and hot in the other, there be nodes. Generally not in the center of the micro.