It's kinda crazy but ants have invaded our kitchen through our microwave somehow, so I figure the best way to clear them out is to just turn on the microwave, right? I turn it on for a minute and they are unaffected. So I make sure the microwave is working by putting a bowl of water in it and set it again. The water is boiling but the ants are still unaffected! I'm pretty sure they have at least some water molecules in their bodies. Anyone know why the waves don't affect them?
2007-06-05 09:27:33 · 9 answers · asked by Gearz 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Two reasons. First, the microwave intensity drops quickly to zero as you approach the surface of the conducting walls of a microwave oven (where the ants crawl). Second, being very small, ants have a very high surface area to volume ratio. The rate of heat loss is proportional to surface area. For a conventional heat source, heating is also proportional to area, so there is no benefit to being small. However, heating in a microwave is proportional to volume, since it heats the bulk directly. Being small then, keeps the ants cool.
2007-06-05 15:18:55 · answer #1 · answered by Dr. R 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have worked on communications and microwave radiation,I got radiated one time and it blacked both eyes and that was all. I was in a 40 ft. dish antenna and some one bumped the switch and was radiated with 10,000 watts. That was a long time ago and no other problems. I always consider it very deadly . It normally will blind u very quickly . Tough ants.
2007-06-05 16:46:57 · answer #2 · answered by JOHNNIE B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not sure exactly microwaves for some reason cant affect small things try putting a tiny bit of cheese in m/w the same thing will happen.......nothing
2007-06-05 16:31:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
lol...i know.
in my apartment the roaches have invaded the microwave. i see them in the part where you see the time. i also tried to turn it on to see if it would kill them but it didnt.
had to get a new microwave....lol
2007-06-05 16:32:29 · answer #4 · answered by mizike 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Boil water. But you have to do it over and over as it does not get all of them until they come out in the open.
2007-06-05 16:30:37 · answer #5 · answered by Cowboy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bugs are TOUGH! I had bugs in my microwave (i didn't know it) and they survived. They were some gnats. Maybe they are able to dodge the micro waves.
2007-06-05 16:30:36 · answer #6 · answered by ANSWER MY QUESTION!! 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
physically they may not be affected but your probably making them retarded by turning the microwave on...
2007-06-06 11:37:15 · answer #7 · answered by turtle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah... something about small size.
the probability of a collision becomes so small.
2007-06-05 16:39:02 · answer #8 · answered by disco legend zeke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wha?!!
that's the creepiest thing I've heard in a really long time!!
2007-06-05 16:31:21 · answer #9 · answered by Judi 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋