Why don’t we use microwave waves for water heaters instead of natural gas?
The speed at which a microwave works depends on the mass of the materials. That's actually a FAQ here (as in "Why does my microwave take longer to cook twice as much food when my oven doesn't?"). I timed this and discovered for my own stove and microwave, the break even point is just about one cup.
The Short Answer
The speed at which a microwave works depends on the mass of the materials. That's actually a FAQ here (as in "Why does my microwave take longer to cook twice as much food when my oven doesn't?"). I timed this and discovered for my own stove and microwave, the break even point is just about one cup. The microwave is faster for less than a cup, the stove top is faster (at least on the big burner) for more than a cup. For the amount of water in a water heater, you'd need a huge microwave. You'd also have to solve the problem of letting water flow through it without having the microwaves leak out. Finally, there are places where gas is much cheaper than electricity.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Microwave, water, stove
This explanation focuses on microwave, water, stove and spans 126 words across 7 sentences. At 75% above the average Science explanation (72 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “The speed at which a microwave works depends on the mass of the materials.” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 7 connected points.
How This Compares in Science
Ranked #66 of 500 Science questions by answer depth (top 14%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why we use microwave waves for water heaters instead of natural gas?
The speed at which a microwave works depends on the mass of the materials. That's actually a FAQ here (as in "Why does my microwave take longer to cook twice as much food when my oven doesn't?"). I timed this and discovered for my own stove and…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Science questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 126 words, ranked #66 of 500 Science questions by depth. The key concepts covered are microwave, water, stove.
What approach does this answer take to explain we use microwave waves for water heaters instead of natural ?
The explanation uses direct explanation across 126 words. It is categorized under Science and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.