Fork left in microwave, hole in microwave wall
I left a fork in my microwave and there were no sparks but there is now a small hole on the inside wall. The microwave works fine but is there anything dangerous about this?
Best Answer
First off, what is the hole in? Is it just a hole in the plastic interior, or is a hole clean through the metal shielding? If you're confident it's just the plastic, that should be fine - that's not part of what's keeping it safe.
If it's actually a hole through the metal, then the power transmitted is roughly proportional to (d/?)^4, that is, the fourth power of the ratio of diameter to wavelength. (See this question on physics, with more details found on another question there. That proportionality is from a simplified version of the problem, but it should be an okay approximation.)
With a 12.2cm microwave wavelength, using a 12.2cm hole as the baseline, 0.01% as much leaks through a 1.2cm hole, 0.1% through a 2.1cm hole, 1% through a 3.8cm hole, and 10% though a 6.7cm hole. And the full power of the microwave is 750-1500W, so the absolute worst case power leaked through those holes is .15W, 1.5W, 15W, and 150W. So for holes less than 1cm (leaking at most .15W) you should not have to worry. A 2cm hole (leaking at most 1.5W) also would likely be safe, since the energy shouldn't be too focused, but that's the range where I'd start getting nervous.
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Is it safe to use a microwave with a hole in it?
When you notice that your microwave has developed a visible hole, it is best to avoid using it altogether. You should contact the manufacturer or the seller and request them to get the microwave replaced, especially if it's newly bought. If the microwave is old, you can give it to a trusted professional repair center.What happens if you leave a fork in the microwave?
If the object has pointy bits, like a fork or the metal filigree on a fancy plate, electrons collect at the edges. When enough electrons build up, an arc can jump between the metal and the electromagnetic transmitter. This is what creates that mini lightening show in your microwave!What happens if you accidentally leave metal in the microwave?
The metal isn't going to hurt the food in any way, the food should be fine. As long as the microwave seems to function properly, it should be ok, as well. I have accidentally left utensils in the microwave before and the appliance didn't sustain damage. Damage is just a possibility, not a definite occurrence.Is my microwave safe to use after arcing?
Is a Sparking Microwave Dangerous? In most cases, you're perfectly safe if your microwave starts sparking. However, if you see sparks in the microwave, you should still turn it off immediately. Sparks will damage the inside of your microwave permanently.What Does Metal REALLY Do In A Microwave?
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Answer 2
The wavelength of the microwaves in the oven is roughly 12 centimeters or 4.7 inches. Therefore, for any of the microwaves to escape the interior of the oven, the hole would have to be 4.7 inches in diameter. If the hole is smaller than this, then the waves won’t leak. If the hole is larger, microwaves might leak. However, even if the waves leak out, it is highly unlikely that they will cause any damage, as microwaves are non-ionizing in nature and do not carry much energy as individual waves in open space. If they escape, the microwaves would dissipate (or die out) quickly in air, not causing any harm, and likely going unnoticed...
Source: Science ABC: What Happens if There’s a Hole in Your Microwave
Answer 3
One thing that can also happen is that this setup will cause interference to radio communications (WIFI, HAM radio...) or even damage someone's radio. While not a direct threat of injury, if you interrupt somebody's business with interference from a known defective device, they can hold you liable for damages.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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