Physics

20 The Speed of Light and Your Microwave. The microwave in your house is capable of producing electromagnetic micro waves that travel at the speed of light. Using a few household items, you can fairly accurately calculate the speed of light using your microwave. What you will need: - The permission of your parentsthey can sign here:_________________________________________ - Marshmallows (the small ones) - Microwave friendly casserole dish - A microwave (I dont have one so I cant do this at home!) - A ruler Procedure: - Pack a layer of marshmallows into the casserole dish - If your microwave has a turntable, remove it (if you cannot remove the turntable, stop here) - Cook the marshmallows on a low heat setting - When you notice the marshmallows start to melt at a number of spots, stop the microwave. - Carefully remove the casserole dish (it will be hot) - Locate and find the wavelength of your marshmallow wave - Locate the frequency of the microwave (on the back) - Use the universal wave equation to calculate the speed of light Deliverables (what you need to hand in to receive credit): - Photo evidence of your experimenttake pictures along the way. This basically proves to me that you did in fact perform the experiment - A log of observationswrite down everything that you see! - A properly formatted (variables, formula, calculation, result) calculation of the speed of light - A properly formatted percent error calculation of your experimental speed of light, compared to the actual value of 299 792 458 m/s - Answers to the following questions: o Why did you have to remove the microwaves turntable? o Why is your value for c not exactly 299 792 458 m/s? Give me 2 sources of error. - I also need PHOTO EVIDENCE of you cleaning up after yourselfie. do the dishes! - Get your parents to sign at the beginning of your assignment (permission to proceed) - Get your parents to sign at the end of your assignment (I want to know that they were not stuck doing the dishes) Have fun!