There is a diference between magnetic fields produced by magnets and by electromagnetic devices. Basicaly the field from a magnet is static (to the magnet) and the electromagnetic device occilates. This has a dramatic effect on certain materials, and is also dependent on frequency.
If all those who think magnetic fields can have no effect on the Human Body would step foreward and place there heads into a microwave (safetys removed) whilst I switch on.......... what .... no voulenteers?


CLogger:

A couple of minor impediments here.

1. Ferromagnetic dipoles, as you say, are relatively static in their field alignment. But so are electromagnets created by a coil with DC going through it. The oscillation you speak of is an AC phenomenon.

2. Microwaves do not use magnetic fields to affect their targets. They emit very high frequency radio waves, with a wavelength in the range of 0.001-0.3m. While these are part of the general electro-magnetic spectrum, they use a magnet only to spin the electrons and generate the radio-waves; the magnetism does not impact the target dish, it just helps excite the microwave energy.

In a magnetron, emitted electrons interact with an electric field and a strong magnetic field to generate microwave energy. The direction of the electric field that accelerates the electron beam is perpendicular to the axis of the magnetic field.

At least, that's how I understand the damn thing.

A