Discussion Questions: Tour of the Electromagnetic Spectrum: Microwaves

Before

• Make a list of all the uses we have for microwave energy.
• Why do you think microwaves would be useful for communications while x-rays, for example, are not?
• Can microwaves penetrate the atmosphere? Why would it matter whether they could or couldn’t?

During

• Why was the discovery in Holmdel NJ in 1965 so important?
• What are different bands within the microwave region, and why are specific bands used for specific purposes?
• How are microwaves used in weather prediction?

After

• Return to the list that you made earlier and add some updates based on what you saw in the video.
• What are some ways microwave technologies have affected our everyday lives?
• Since we can’t actually “see” microwaves, how do scientists produce the satellite images seen in the video?
• Bonus Question: Why would microwaves heat up food in an oven, but not us, even though there are microwave transmitters beaming radiation all around us?