Final answer:
A microwave oven is a common household product that uses microwaves to heat food. It operates at a frequency of around 2.45 GHz, which is readily absorbed by water molecules in food, causing them to oscillate and generate heat. Features like rotating fans and turntables help to evenly distribute the microwaves and cook food more uniformly.
Step-by-step explanation:
One common product that utilizes microwaves is the microwave oven. It uses microwaves, a form of electromagnetic waves, to selectively heat food. This selective heating occurs because water molecules and other substances in food absorb the microwave energy more strongly than the surrounding materials. Microwaves at a frequency of approximately 2.45 GHz are produced in a microwave oven, causing the water molecules in the food to oscillate. This oscillation leads to friction, which produces heat and cooks the food.
Microwave ovens are designed with features such as a rotating fan, often referred to as a stirrer, and a turntable to distribute the microwaves evenly and avoid hot spots. Since microwaves are absorbed by water vapor, they are effective at heating foods that contain water. Meanwhile, items like a ceramic cup, which do not contain water, remain relatively cool when exposed to microwaves.