Name two energy transformations that occur as Gabriella heats a bowl of soup in the microwave

1) Electrical energy → radiant energy (microwaves)

2) radiant energy (microwaves) → kinetic energy of the water molecules in the soup (heat)

Explanation:

1) Electrical energy → radiant energy (microwaves)

The electrical energy from the wall oulet is transformed in micro-waves by the internal mechanism of the microwave oven.

Micro-waves is an electromagnetic waves. The electromagnetive waves are waves that can travel through vaccum. The electromagnetic waves include: radio waves, micro-waves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, and gamma rays. They differentiate from each other in the wave length (consequently in the frequency).

2) radiant energy (microwaves) → kinetic energy of the water molecules in the soup.

The radiant energy changes the properties of that matter. The micro-waves causes the water molecules in the food to vibrate billions of times per second, which increasing the kinetic energy rapidly.

Remember that heat is the kinetic energy of the molecules transferred from the hotter substances to the cooler ones.

So, this is how the food is heated.

Temperature and kinetic energy