Microwave Vs Kettle

[TUR80]

Some factors to consider are speed, power consumption and the hotest heat

[MrMxyzptlk]

Neither: We had an instant boiling-hot-water kitchen spigot installed when we built the house.


Ramen noodles in 5 seconds!  WOOT!

[BFM_DarkFyr]

Kettle. Then oven element. Never used a microwave to boil water.

[Goalie]

Some factors to consider are speed, power consumption and the hotest heat

Speed => edge goes to microwave, hands down.  90 seconds for a glass of water compared to 5 minutes or more on a stove.
power consumption => depends on what type of stove you're using.  A gas stove would certainly use less energy, but an electric stove would probably not.  I will go with kettle on this one.
hottest => kettle, a stove can get food much hotter than any microwave can.

Hmm, any other factors?

Safest => microwave, but don't put your head in there.
Easiest => kettle is easier because it makes a sound when the water is boiling.  Kettle.
Cost => usually the microwave and stove come as a package, but when separate the stove costs more.  I think the stove has a higher average cost per month.  Microwave.

I would say that using a kettle to boil water is better than using a microwave.  better quality overall, but if you want speed, go with the microwave.

[BFM_Crimson]

Well kettles are traditionally heated over a fire, so if you want to take into consideration how hot fire can get, there's how hot you can heat it. That also covers speed, as, for example, a 1000^oC fire will heat a kettle of water faster than your average stove or microwave.
This wouldn't take any electricity as such, but lots of combustibles and oxygen

[Zeek]

Neither: We had an instant boiling-hot-water kitchen spigot installed when we built the house.


Ramen noodles in 5 seconds!  WOOT!

thats awsome, can you send my some??? my water takes forever to heat because of what type it is

[BFM_Kiwi]

I assume by kettle, Tur80 means a plug in jug like so



These have a small element inside that boils water very quickly.  Probably just about as efficient as using the microwave, and a bit faster.

Ours started acting up so we replaced it with a conventional stove-top kettle.  We have gas, so it heats up quickly.

[TUR80]

goalie
i put it in the homework haven cos it is a physics assignment

[BFM_Kiwi]

Ah, a physics assignment.

Then you need to get the wattage of various things and work out how much energy each uses.

Say a 1000W microwave might boil water in 100 seconds  -  1000W x 100sec = 100 kJ

and a 2000 W kettle might boil the water in 45 seconds  - 2000 W x 45sec = 90 kJ

and so on?

[Bulk]

I tested it:

I burnt my hand

[jim360]

Use a kettle. Microwaves have a tendency to heat water past boiling point if you aren't looking, whereas any sensible modern kettle has an auto-off function when the water is about to boil.

[Bulk]

Past boiling point?
How's that work? i thought under normal atmospheric conditions water could only heat to 100 Centigrades before it evapourated, I know steam can go way hotter but the water itself? That's cool

[BFM_Kiwi]

it can get superheated if the water is perfectly still.  mythbusters tried unsuccessfully to recreate it.  the second the superheated water is disturbed, it explodes!  very unlikely to happen though, as mythbusters proved.

[TUR80]

Past boiling point?
How's that work? i thought under normal atmospheric conditions water could only heat to 100 Centigrades before it evapourated, I know steam can go way hotter but the water itself? That's cool

it is not cool
it is reeeeeeely hot

[MrMxyzptlk]

Use a kettle. Microwaves have a tendency to heat water past boiling point if you aren't looking, whereas any sensible modern kettle has an auto-off function when the water is about to boil.

Yes, indeed, this can happen.

Many people are scalded badly every year by water microwaved to super-hot temps in a mug.  Plunging in anything such as a spoon to disturb the quiescence of the liquid can cause a "flash-to-vapor" that is basically like being next to a bursting high-pressure steam pipe.

If you microwave water to heat it, ALWAYS place something in it that breaks the surface tension - such as a wooden or plastic spoon - NOTHING METALLIC!  - standing in the mug/cup/bowl.

More here.

Methinks you should add that tidbit to your report, bfm_TUR80, and impress your teacher with your version of a PSA! (Woot!!! Extra Credit!!!  )