Is it true?

Question

Is it true that you can stick a lightbulb in a bowl of water in the microwave and turn on the microwave and the lightbulb will light up for like 30 seconds? Someone told my husband this and now he wants to try it but I don't want him to blow up my microwave or house for that matter.

Answer 1

send the question to the Mythbusters and let them do it. OR go buy a used microwave at a second hand store and use it OUTSIDE to do the experiment.

Answer 2

hehe, well yes it will "work"... It's the little metal filament inside that's lighting up- so it also works on a burnt out light bulb. But they also explode in the microwave (learned that the hard way) and can even substantially burn and damage the internal wall (learned that the hard way, too). It ate a hole in the wall bigger than a quarter! Which, more importantly, could indicate that it may not be a safe activity for the observers, either, but I stopped experimenting before proving THAT point all the way :).

Edit: And it was bad because it wasn't my m/w, and I had to explain to the others that they couldn't use it anymore or they'd risk microwave radiation through the hole. :(

Answer 3

Unless it's a fluorescent bulb, I don't think this will work. You need a steady electrical current flowing through an incandescent bulb for it to light up.

However, you can try it for yourself. Your microwave will not be harmed, and you won't be in any danger. If you see any sparks (unlikely with the bulb in the water) or smoke, simply turn off the microwave.