4 ms·

You can encode a lot more information in higher frequencies. But each frequency has different things that are opaque to it, and travel different distances befo

You can encode a lot more information in higher frequencies. But each frequency has different things that are opaque to it, and travel different distances before dropping off. Wi-Fi is already “really low frequency, really low intensity infrared light”, so I suspect the article is correct when it says we won’t notice it.

cdumler 3y ago
Correct. The reason why microwaves can cook food isn't the fact that it is a microwave frequency. Microwaves ovens cook by flipping the polarity back and forth. The frequency emitted is the same resonant frequency as water molecules, so the water molecules attempt to align constantly to the ever changing polarity. Movement is heat; thus, the water heats the food.
- oehtXRwMkIs 3y ago
  I've heard the resonance with water explanation is a common misconception: https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/150128/how-do-microwaves-heat-moisture-free-items https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/150128/how-do-mi...
  - rolph 3y ago
    more of an oversimplification. polar bonds interact with EM field of microwave oven. water is one of many thousands of compounds having polar bonds
    - oehtXRwMkIs 3y ago
      That doesn't sound like resonance to me, which is about constructive interference and natural frequencies. So more of an inaccuracy I think.
- pfedak 3y ago
  To set the record straight for the above comment - - it's true that there isn't a precise frequency needed for microwave ovens to heat food - however, "polarity flipping" is just a description of electromagnetic radiation itself, and shooting enough EM radiation at food in a frequency range it absorbs will heat it up via dielectric heating - microwaves have no relationship to any specific resonant frequency of water - the vibration frequencies are orders of magnitude higher https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_absorption_by_water#Vibrational_spectrum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_absorption_by_... while rotation response inherently does not have a peak - otherwise, yes, the motion of (polar) molecules induced by an electric field is indeed the mechanism of dielectric heating
NotYourLawyer 3y ago
> Wi-Fi is already “really low frequency, really low intensity infrared light” No, infrared by definition starts around 300 GHz and goes up from there.
- embwbam 3y ago
  Sorry. I was just going by the literal reading of the infra (under) red.

cdumler 3y ago

Correct. The reason why microwaves can cook food isn't the fact that it is a microwave frequency. Microwaves ovens cook by flipping the polarity back and forth. The frequency emitted is the same resonant frequency as water molecules, so the water molecules attempt to align constantly to the ever changing polarity. Movement is heat; thus, the water heats the food.

oehtXRwMkIs 3y ago
I've heard the resonance with water explanation is a common misconception: https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/150128/how-do-microwaves-heat-moisture-free-items https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/150128/how-do-mi...
- rolph 3y ago
  more of an oversimplification. polar bonds interact with EM field of microwave oven. water is one of many thousands of compounds having polar bonds
  - oehtXRwMkIs 3y ago
    That doesn't sound like resonance to me, which is about constructive interference and natural frequencies. So more of an inaccuracy I think.
pfedak 3y ago
To set the record straight for the above comment - - it's true that there isn't a precise frequency needed for microwave ovens to heat food - however, "polarity flipping" is just a description of electromagnetic radiation itself, and shooting enough EM radiation at food in a frequency range it absorbs will heat it up via dielectric heating - microwaves have no relationship to any specific resonant frequency of water - the vibration frequencies are orders of magnitude higher https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_absorption_by_water#Vibrational_spectrum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_absorption_by_... while rotation response inherently does not have a peak - otherwise, yes, the motion of (polar) molecules induced by an electric field is indeed the mechanism of dielectric heating

NotYourLawyer 3y ago

> Wi-Fi is already “really low frequency, really low intensity infrared light” No, infrared by definition starts around 300 GHz and goes up from there.

embwbam 3y ago
Sorry. I was just going by the literal reading of the infra (under) red.