Finding the Speed of Light Using Chocolate

An easy way to find the speed of light is by using a microwave and a bar of chocolate. A microwave uses standing waves to heat up your food, which is formed when two waves of equal magnitudes collide in phase. Finding the speed of light was vital for advances in many areas of our understanding of light, allowing us to conceptually visualize light.

1. 1 Microwave
2. 1 Bar of Chocolate (or a few pieces of cheese)
3. 1 30cm Ruler
4. 1 Plate

A key fact needed for this experiment is the frequency of the wave. This can be found either on the side of back of the microwave. In my case, the frequency was 2450MHz.

Removing the turntable allows clear antinodes to form, which is vital for an accurate answer.

If no clear melted spots form, put it back in the microwave in the same spot for another 20 seconds.

Make sure you measure from the center of the melted spots. In my case, I found the distance to be 9cm.

The speed of light can be determined by finding both the frequency and wavelength of the wave. The distance between is the melted spots is half of the wavelength. By using c= frequency x wavelength, I found that the speed of light was 2.21x10^8 m/s, which was 73% the theoretical speed of light (3x10^8m/s)

After all this hard maths, you deserve a treat and you don't want the chocolate to go to waste. So go and enjoy a sweet snack. Enjoy!😄