facts about the invention
of the microwave oven by Percy
Spencer in 1945.
|The microwave oven did not come about
as a result of someone trying to find a better, faster way to cook. During World War II,
two scientists invented the magnetron, a tube that produces microwaves. Installing
magnetrons in Britains radar system, the microwaves were able to spot Nazi warplanes
on their way to bomb the British Isles.
By accident, several years later, it was
discovered that microwaves also cook food. Called the Radar Range, the first microwave
oven to go on the market was roughly as large and heavy as a refrigerator.
|The idea of using microwave energy to cook food
was accidentally discovered by Percy LeBaron Spencer of the Raytheon Company when he found
that radar waves had melted a candy bar in his pocket. Experiments showed that microwave
heating could raise the internal temperature of many foods far more rapidly than a
|The first Raytheon commercial
microwave oven was the 1161 Radarange, which was marketed in 1954. Rated at 1600 watts, it
was so large and expensive that it was practical only for restaurant and institutional
In 1967, Amana, a division of Raytheon, introduced its
domestic Radarange microwave oven, marking the beginning of the use of microwave ovens in
home kitchens. Although sales were slow during the first few years, partially due to the
ovens relatively expensive price tag, the concept of quick microwave cooking had
arrived. In succeeding years, Litton and a number of other companies joined the countertop
microwave oven market. By the end of 1971, the price of countertop units began to decrease
and their capabilities were expanded.
All electromagnetic energy can be characterized as waves with a
specific wavelength and frequency distributed over a continuous range known as the
electromagnetic spectrum. For example, some radio waves have a wavelength of 6 feet (12
meters) and a frequency of 50 million hertz (Hz-cycles per second). Visible light waves
have a wavelength of 400 to 700 millimicrons, and typical X-rays have a length of 0.01
millimicrons and a frequency of 30 x 10¹² millions.
Microwaves (short waves or high
frequency radio waves) are the shortest of radio waves, with a length of 0.1 millimeter
and a frequency of 3 x 109 Hz. They are found in the non-ionizing portion of the energy
spectrum, between radio waves and visible light. "Non-ionizing" means that
microwaves do not detach charged particles and produce atoms with an unbalanced plus or
minus charge. Microwaves can therefore safely produce heat and not cause food to become
Microwaves are reflected from most metals but they produce inductive
resonance's in the atoms of many other substances. It was the discovery of their
reaction to metals that led to the invention of radar. It was their ability to produce
resonant coupling that led to the invention of the microwave oven.
from The Great Idea
History of Household Items from The Great Idea Finder
ON THE BOOKSHELF:
That Shaped World History
by Bill Yenne, Morton, Dr. Grosser (Editor) / Paperback - 112 pages (1983) / Bluewood Books
This book contains inventions from all around the world from microchips to fire. This is a
really good book if you are going to do research on inventions.
Happen: 50 Inventions Discovered by Mistake
by Charlotte Foltz Jones, John O'Brien (Illustrator) / Hardcover - 86 pages
(1996) / Delacorte
Fifty inventions discovered by mistake receive entertaining cartoon embellishment but are
actually serious subjects which will delight and entertain kids.
Kid Who Invented the Popsicle: And Other Surprising Stories About Inventions
by Don L. Wulffson / Paperback - 128 pages (1999) / Puffin
Brief factual stories about how various familiar things were invented, many by accident,
from animal crackers to the zipper.
Work for Mother: The Ironies of Household Technology from the Open Hearth to the Microwave
by Ruth Schwartz Cowan / Paperback Reprint edition (February 1985) / Basic Books (Sd)
Inventions such as washing machines, cotton cloth, and even white flour acted as catalysts
by giving the less well-off a chance at the comforts the prosperous already possessed, but
in general it was men and children whose chores were relieved by these innovations.
Gourmet: The Only Microwave Cookbook You Will Ever Need
by Barbara Kafka / Paperback: 576 pages / William Morrow & Co;
(January 1998) The first microwave cookbook ever introduced by a major food writer--a
breakthrough cookbook that challenges all the preconceptions about what one can and cannot
do with a microwave. Includes hundreds of entries explaining how different foods react in
Livin' Low-Calorie Microwave Cooking
by Karen Kangas Dwyer / Paperback - 355 pages 1st Ed. edition (April 1990) / St.
Dwyer has created more than 200 recipes for fish, chicken, lean meats, vegetables,
breads and muffins, even low-calorie desserts designed to make the microwave a dieter's
A Social History
of American Technology
by Ruth Schwartz Cowan / Paperback: 352 pages / Oxford University Press; (December 1996)
This book surveys the history of American technology from the
early 17th century to the present,
focusing on the key individuals, ideas, and systems that have shaped the important
developments throughout American history.
ON THE SCREEN:
DVD / 1 Volume Set / 50 Minutes / History Channel / Less than $25.00
See how the computing capacity of World-War II era room-sized computers
is now surpassed by hand-held devices; visit Zenith to see a
side-by-side comparison of regular television and HDTV; discover how a
Cold War era NASA program is transforming personal photography, and get
the inside story about MP3s.
DVD / 1 Volume Set / 50 Minutes / History Channel / Less than $25.00
HOUSEHOLD WONDERS tells the story of seven taken-for-granted inventions
that make modern life comfy, fast and clean: the stove, sewing machine,
refrigerator, air conditioner, washing machine, vacuum cleaner, toaster
ON THE WEB:
A Brief History of
the Microwave Oven
Like many of today's great inventions, the microwave oven was a by-product of another
The Amana Story
In 1967, the company revolutionized the way America cooks with the introduction of the
Amana Radarange® the first countertop microwave oven for the home.
Raytheon: A History of
Global Technology Leadership
Raytheons discovery of microwave cooking in 1945 was initially an accident, but its
development, like so many others, can be credited to Percy Spencer. Spencer was the first,
however, to discover that one could cook food using microwave radio signals.
The Greatest Discovery Since Fire
There’s a lot more to the story of the microwave oven than a melted
candy bar. Article by William Hammack for Invention & Technology
Neb Facts - Making Decisions - University of Nebraska-Lincoln
A Free, Practical On-Line Guide To Safe and Successful Microwave Oven Repair
Microwave Oven FAQ
Explore the Mysteries of Microwave Energy
Microwave Oven Parts and Supplies.
Inventors Hall of Fame
The National Inventors Hall of Fame™ honors
the women and men responsible for the great technological advances that make
human, social and economic progress possible..
HOW IT WORKS:
How a Microwave Oven Works
by Marshall Brain at How Stuff Works. COOKIES AND POP-UP ADS.
How Does A
Microwave Oven Work?
Basic Theory of Operation
DID YOU KNOW?:
- In 1947, Raytheon demonstrated the worlds first
microwave oven and called it a "Radarange," the winning name in an employee
- 1947 - Raytheon builds its first microwave oven. Weighing
over 750 pounds and standing over five feet tall, the oven is limited to commercial use.
- 1967 - Using Raytheons microwave cooking technology,
Amana introduces the worlds first successful 115-volt countertop microwave oven for
- Microwave ovens are now found in over 90% of US homes
- Housed in refrigerator-sized cabinets, the first microwave
ovens cost between $2,000 and $3,000 and were sold by Raytheon primarily to the commercial
- Patent 2,495,429 issued January 24,
1950 Method of Treating Foodstuffs filed Oct. 5, 1945
Sources in BOLD Type
page revised August 15, 2005.
Berners-Lee's invention has revolutionized the world like nothing
The invention of the Internet,
should be classed with the greatest events of the 20th Century.
The Aero Sport All-Terrain Bed
with Dual Power Pump is the perfect addition to any camping trip or weekend
book, is the perfect desktop reference for both the science novice and the
technologically advanced reader alike.
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