Microwave Heating: The Science Behind It
From Wikipedia.org:
"Microwaves, also known as Super High Frequency (SHF) signals, have wavelengths approximately in the range of 30 cm (1 GHz) to 1 mm (300 GHz)."
and
"A microwave oven uses a magnetron microwave generator to produce microwaves at a frequency of approximately 2.4 GHz for the purpose of cooking food. Microwaves cook food by causing molecules of water and other compounds to vibrate. The vibration creates heat which warms the food. Since organic matter is made up primarily of water, food is easily cooked by this method."
http://home.howstuffworks.com/microwave2.htm
Chase Roosdett PHYS 211 Web Project Fall 2004