What are they?
Microwaves may be considered as extremely high frequency radio waves but they are generally considered as a category of their own in the spectrum. Microwaves have shorter wavelengths than normal radio waves and longer wavelengths than infrared (therefore the frequency is not high enough to produce heat unlike infrared).
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Microwaves are used for transmitting huge quantities of data from place to place because of their higher frequency compared to radio waves. Their travelling distance is shorter than radio and longer than infrared(which is short ranged) but can be much much further by beaming these waves through to space to reach satellites where the information can be reflected back to earth to a different location or to a neighbouring satellite to send it to the other side of the world.
Microwaves can be man-made by devices such as circuits, transmission towers, radar, and microwave ovens or found naturally in small amounts from the sun.
Microwaves can be man-made by devices such as circuits, transmission towers, radar, and microwave ovens or found naturally in small amounts from the sun.
Because of their shorter wavelengths, they are more easily absorbed by solid structures(they can still pass through thin and transparent objects). Because of this , microwave signals can be blocked by tall mountains and buildings. Unlike radio waves, microwaves cannot diffract(bend) around objects and need some kind of assistance to get the signals across.
Microwave signals are directed in short straight line paths by antennas to take full benefit of their high frequencies. The microwaves can be easily reflected off metal dishes of receivers and bounce from dish to dish until it reaches its desired location
Microwave signals are directed in short straight line paths by antennas to take full benefit of their high frequencies. The microwaves can be easily reflected off metal dishes of receivers and bounce from dish to dish until it reaches its desired location
Certain frequencies of microwaves allow the signals to reach space because it passes through the atmosphere, making it ideal for satellite communications. Other frequencies of microwaves absorb certain molecules making it beneficial for heating food but less convenient for sending a single long signal across as it could get lost in the atmosphere. Therefore microwave networks are used to relay signals so these waves travel farther.
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