What happens when you put a penny in the microwave

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.

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. The image is a screenshot of a tweet, but the username and date have been cut off. The tweet featured an image of the purported shrunken coin next to a regular-sized penny. According to Snopes, the image originated in November on Twitter, but the original account has been suspended.

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. In reality, the years-old picture came from a blogger who set their microwave on fire accidentally while heating a pot of oil.

Microwave ovens heat food by bouncing microwaves around a metal box.

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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. The image is a screenshot of a tweet, but the username and date have been cut off. The tweet featured an image of the purported shrunken coin next to a regular-sized penny. According to Snopes, the image originated in November on Twitter, but the original account has been suspended. A screengrab of the tweet posted on Reddit shows it had been retweeted more than 11, times within one week of posting. Fact check: Viral image misrepresents the electoral process. Putting a coin in a microwave won't shrink it, however.

What happens when you put a penny in the microwave

Apr 23, advice , education 3 comments. Image from Reddit. Microwaves work by shooting electrons at whatever it finds. The electrons create friction as it passes through the surfaces and generates heat. These electrons cannot pass through a metal surface.

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When this happens, it will result in arcing inside your microwave, from that metal to another electrical conductor with lower potential often the wall of the 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. Mental Floss explained :. My Profile. With metal, however, these waves are reflected, not absorbed, which can lead to sparking. Campbell, Leah. 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. The tweet featured an image of the purported shrunken coin next to a regular-sized penny. Fact check: Microwaving a penny won't shrink it, and it might damage your microwave. Fact Check. Become a Member. Fact check: Viral image misrepresents the electoral process. The sparks can also end up burning out the magnetron in your microwave oven or, in modern microwaves, can generate a surge that ends up damaging sensitive microelectronics, possibly killing your microwave or making it unsafe to use. Please just take our word on that, too.

Does microwaving a penny for one minute cause it to shrink into a mini coin?

My Profile. While the origin of the smaller coins posted on social media isn't clear, they could be props used for magic tricks. If put in the microwave, the coins will start to spark, but they won't shrink. Home U. Mental Floss explained :. The picture is a couple of years old and reportedly shows the kitchen of a blogger who accidentally started a fire after leaving a pan filled with oil unattended on her stove. Putting a coin in a microwave won't shrink it, however. Putting a penny in a microwave is not going to cause it to shrink. With metal, however, these waves are reflected, not absorbed, which can lead to sparking. Facebook Twitter Email.