"Peter Hucker" <none@spam.com> wrote in message
news:op.tmvmiiqt4buhsv@fx62...
> On Sat, 27 Jan 2007 01:38:36 -0000, colin <no.spam.for.me@ntlworld.com>
wrote:
> 
> > "Peter Hucker" <none@spam.com> wrote in message
> > news:op.tmrzqxxk4buhsv@fx62...
> > > On Wed, 24 Jan 2007 14:53:25 -0000, Snap Whipcrack..............
> > <snapw@aol.com> wrote:
> > > 
> > > > Peter Hucker wrote:
> > > > > On Tue, 23 Jan 2007 16:49:43 -0000, Snap Whipcrack..............
> > <snapw@aol.com> wrote:
> > > > > 
> > > > > > Peter Hucker wrote:
> > > > > > > Is it really true that turning on a microwave with nothing in it
will
> > break it?
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > Even more worrying - will it catch fire or explode?
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > Don't they have a safety cutout?  Can't it sense the Klystron
> > overheating, or a build up of microwaves over a certain level?
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > I have purchased a new microwave which has an easier to grab
control.
> > I'm concerned one of my pet parrots will switch it on!  (Seriously, they
do
> > stuff like that)
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > Microwave ovens don't care what you put inside. They do not have
> > > > > > feedback loops.  You can cook a raisin or a melon or nothing at
all.
> > > > > 
> > > > > But where do you think the power ends up if it is not absorbed?
> > > > > 
> > > > It dissipates. Where do you think the microwave transmitters on
mountain
> > > > tops power ends up? It doesn't go round and round the earth forever.
> > > 
> > > It's absorbed into water, in lakes for example.
> > > 
> > > A closed microwave has nothing that can absorb it.
> > 
> > The glass tray will usually absorb some of the microwave, basically when
its
> > empty the electric field builds up to such a high value that it
eventually
> > gets absorbed by something somewhere, or it ends up disipating in
sparking
> > wich can be quite spectacular if have two bits of unconnected metal
close to
> > eachother.
> 
> Brainiac Science Abuse (TV program) put a set of five swinging balls (one
of them office toys) in a microwave on its own.  The microwave exploded
spectacularly after less than a minute.  Can you explain that?

From what ive seen of braniac they probably filled it with something that
would explode spectacularly.
I wonder what the balls were made of, something explosive perhaps ?
ordinary flour or paper dust can make a very good explosive if mixed with
air.

Colin =^.^=