What happens when you put a penny in the microwave

But some social media users are contradicting that, claiming microwaving a coin will shrink it. It's a claim that is both wrong and dangerous. It's part of a long-running prank on various social media platforms, where posters try to trick others into attempting the potentially dangerous action.

About this rating. Do not put metal in a microwave oven. It's a simple and important rule many people learn at a young age. But apparently it bears some repeating. In November , a potentially dangerous prank started to circulate on social media in the form of before-and-after photographs.

What happens when you put a penny in the microwave

It's a lesson even the worst home cooks hopefully know: Putting metal in the microwave is a recipe for disaster. Thanks to a viral image circulating on the web, some people may be tempted to ignore this piece of common sense in the name of experimentation. The picture shows one normal-sized penny next to three smaller pennies with the caption: "This is what happens when you put a penny in a microwave for 2 minutes. Microwave ovens heat food by bouncing microwaves around a metal box. Certain molecules, like the molecules in your leftovers, absorb these waves via dielectric loss and convert them into heat. Not all substances are compatible with microwaves, however. Metal contains high concentrations of electrons, and when microwaves hit a metallic surface, these electrons become very active and block the wave's path. Instead of absorbing into the metal, the microwaves bounce off, which can cause electrical sparks. Sometimes these sparks are strong enough to burn a hole in the oven's walls and damage the electronic equipment. Even if you could somehow shrink coins in a microwave, the science explained above should be reason enough to resist the urge to try it at home. Anyone who tries the experiment against their better instincts will be disappointed. The photo that's been shared on social media is a hoax, with Snopes explaining that the smaller pennies likely originated in a magician's trick kit. The post inspired some people to share false claims of their own. One response to the image showed a melted microwave that had allegedly fallen victim to the penny trick.

Even if you could somehow shrink coins in a microwave, the science explained above should be reason enough to resist the urge to try it at home.

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It's a lesson even the worst home cooks hopefully know: Putting metal in the microwave is a recipe for disaster. Thanks to a viral image circulating on the web, some people may be tempted to ignore this piece of common sense in the name of experimentation. The picture shows one normal-sized penny next to three smaller pennies with the caption: "This is what happens when you put a penny in a microwave for 2 minutes. Microwave ovens heat food by bouncing microwaves around a metal box. Certain molecules, like the molecules in your leftovers, absorb these waves via dielectric loss and convert them into heat. Not all substances are compatible with microwaves, however.

What happens when you put a penny in the microwave

Misbar concluded that you cannot shrink a penny by microwaving it for any amount of time. It will cause the penny to spark, but will not shrink it. Putting metal in the microwave could damage it. In extreme cases, microwaving metal objects could even start a fire.

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Fact check: Microwaving a penny won't shrink it, and it might damage your microwave. The photo that's been shared on social media is a hoax, with Snopes explaining that the smaller pennies likely originated in a magician's trick kit. Videos of coins being microwaved posted online show sparks appearing almost immediately after starting the microwave. This button on your microwave will give you much better cooking results. Take the following tweet, for instance, which was posted in response to this "shrinking penny" message:. Show Caption. The picture shows one normal-sized penny next to three smaller pennies with the caption: "This is what happens when you put a penny in a microwave for 2 minutes. A microwave is a magnetron "hooked up to a high voltage source. Please just take our word on that, too. Thanks to a viral image circulating on the web, some people may be tempted to ignore this piece of common sense in the name of experimentation. If put in the microwave, the coins will start to spark, but they won't shrink. About Us. When microwaves are reflected instead of being absorbed, it can potentially create a sufficient charge density that the electrical potential in the metal object exceeds the dielectric breakdown of air.

While it may seem obvious to most of us that metal does not belong in the microwave, a recent viral trend has convinced some people that microwaving pennies can cause them to shrink.

It's a simple and important rule many people learn at a young age. Facebook Twitter Email. Microwave ovens heat food by bouncing microwaves around a metal box. So while microwaving a penny may cause some sparks and potentially damage your appliance, a dramatic explosion isn't likely. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. With metal, however, these waves are reflected, not absorbed, which can lead to sparking. According to Snopes, the image originated in November on Twitter, but the original account has been suspended. If put in the microwave, the coins will start to spark, but they won't shrink. Instead of absorbing into the metal, the microwaves bounce off, which can cause electrical sparks. But apparently it bears some repeating. The Food and Safety Service recommends stopping the microwave immediately if sparks occur because they can damage the oven and the metal object.