I’m from Canada, Vancouver specifically. I came over to the UK late 2020 to be with my now wife. Filled out my visa application mid-2020. The application had to be on A4. The “corporate partner” office that processes all the UK visa applications has to be sent printers and paper from the UK. As for myself I had to hire a small printing firm to print my application out on larger paper and cut it down to A4. The UKVI office, and the Canadian corporate partner who dealt with my application and biometrics…had the digital copy. I was still required to provide a hard copy on A4.
110v/240v isn’t really a huge issue…but I wish us Canadians would pull our finger out and go full metric, with the same ISO standard paper sizes as the rest of the rational world…
Okay, I’m all for roasting Americans on our standards and measurements, but what size paper do you use? I have no complaints about 8 1/2"x 11" paper, but I’m obviously used to it.
There is a benefit to ISO standard paper sizes: Their dimensions correspond to the golden ratio, so if you cut a sheet of A4 paper in half, the two resulting sheets of A5 are the same aspect ratio. This is NOT the case with eightnahaffbylevun letter paper.
Domestic microwave ovens rarely offer more than 1kW of power, while a regular British kettle is 3kW. It takes ages to boil a cuppa in the microwave and that’s unacceptable!
Extra volts are great! We can also get three phases if needed, that’s how domestic EV chargers go up to 22kW or something :) Three phases in the UK get you 240V x 300A, but you are not allowed a single device to have more than 30A per phase I believe.
Yeah, I agree, it’s something like that. Ive never really gotten a concrete answer from anyone for why they won’t use a microwave to heat water. The best I’ve gotten is “that’s not a what a microwave is for”.
It’s inefficient if you’re heating up multiple cups. A kettle of water takes about the same time as microwaving one cup. Americans often make one cup of tea, while Brits expect everyone within several blocks to pop in for a cuppa.
Yes exactly. They are only for heating up molecules that have a dipole, like hydrogen chloride, ozone, ammonia, and some other probably unimportant ones.
Well this comment sent me on a bit of a deep dive. My statistical thermodynamics prof told us that microwaves only affect waters dipole, but it seems like they affect all polar molecules, like you say. Maybe it’s a semantics/language thing because I can imagine we could pick the microwave size to match its dipole. It’s been too long. I’d need to crack open some scary textbooks again. Hmm
Ah… my physics course was very short, and tried to cover a bit of everything, because I did Computer Science. So I really don’t know the details. I just assumed it would apply to any polar molecule to some degree and looked up random ones for that joke.
I do know that Microwaves use a frequency around 2.4 GHz - 2.5 GHz, they can disturb Wifi if they leak. But I assume that is just because the unlicensed ISM band is there, and hasn’t got anything to do with water specifically.
I much prefer my cheap plastic electric kettle that imbues each cup of tea with microplatics
Microwaves are also one of the best methods for cooking vegetables due to minimal nutrients being sucked out by water (unless you’re drinking your boiled broccoli water of course) and no charring (yummy cancer) but it’s seen as inferior by most.
That said I’ve literally never cooked tofu in the microwave and I’m hesitant to even try lol
I have no idea where we received this stigma and I am appalled. You can falsely accuse me of anything, ANYTHING, except microwaving tea. I will not let that stand.
::: spoiler
I heat my water inside the oven like a true US citizen.
:::
Could be worse, she could microwave tea instead of using a kettle…isn’t that right Americans
Why would anyone warm it? I have a puddle with like 20 oak leaves in my backyard, if I want leaf water, I’ll drink that.
Don’t pick on them. They only get 110v inches/pound power. They’ll write you an angry note on letter sized paper.
I’d be really mad at you right now, IF I COULD READ!
I’m from Canada, Vancouver specifically. I came over to the UK late 2020 to be with my now wife. Filled out my visa application mid-2020. The application had to be on A4. The “corporate partner” office that processes all the UK visa applications has to be sent printers and paper from the UK. As for myself I had to hire a small printing firm to print my application out on larger paper and cut it down to A4. The UKVI office, and the Canadian corporate partner who dealt with my application and biometrics…had the digital copy. I was still required to provide a hard copy on A4.
110v/240v isn’t really a huge issue…but I wish us Canadians would pull our finger out and go full metric, with the same ISO standard paper sizes as the rest of the rational world…
Okay, I’m all for roasting Americans on our standards and measurements, but what size paper do you use? I have no complaints about 8 1/2"x 11" paper, but I’m obviously used to it.
There is a benefit to ISO standard paper sizes: Their dimensions correspond to the golden ratio, so if you cut a sheet of A4 paper in half, the two resulting sheets of A5 are the same aspect ratio. This is NOT the case with eightnahaffbylevun letter paper.
A4
The chemist in me is so sad 😞 what’s wrong with the microwave for heating water? That’s it’s one job in life
Domestic microwave ovens rarely offer more than 1kW of power, while a regular British kettle is 3kW. It takes ages to boil a cuppa in the microwave and that’s unacceptable!
Hey, that’s not bad!!! Doesn’t work here in Canada but now I’m really curious about it in Europe/UK. Gotta love the extra volts 💪
Extra volts are great! We can also get three phases if needed, that’s how domestic EV chargers go up to 22kW or something :) Three phases in the UK get you 240V x 300A, but you are not allowed a single device to have more than 30A per phase I believe.
Ugh, I’m so jealous. My car is currently charging off of 110V at 12 amps 😭
Move to Europe!
I was planning on it, but my country needs me 😞 🇨🇦 maybe later if things calm down.
I think they believe we’re heating the cup with the tea bag in it or smth, instead of just heating water. Idk. It’s lunacy.
Yeah, I agree, it’s something like that. Ive never really gotten a concrete answer from anyone for why they won’t use a microwave to heat water. The best I’ve gotten is “that’s not a what a microwave is for”.
It’s inefficient if you’re heating up multiple cups. A kettle of water takes about the same time as microwaving one cup. Americans often make one cup of tea, while Brits expect everyone within several blocks to pop in for a cuppa.
That makes sense, especially in a place with 240V
Yeah, microwaves aren’t for making water hot, they’re for making food hot AND DON’T TRY TO EXPLAIN HOW THEY WORK MAGIC MAN!
The only thing you need to know is: don’t put metal in the science oven!
Why? My last one came with a metal rack.
If metal rack can go in science oven, metal must not be a big issue.
This is the only reason.
smooth good. pointy bad.
Yes exactly. They are only for heating up molecules that have a dipole, like hydrogen chloride, ozone, ammonia, and some other probably unimportant ones.
Well this comment sent me on a bit of a deep dive. My statistical thermodynamics prof told us that microwaves only affect waters dipole, but it seems like they affect all polar molecules, like you say. Maybe it’s a semantics/language thing because I can imagine we could pick the microwave size to match its dipole. It’s been too long. I’d need to crack open some scary textbooks again. Hmm
Ah… my physics course was very short, and tried to cover a bit of everything, because I did Computer Science. So I really don’t know the details. I just assumed it would apply to any polar molecule to some degree and looked up random ones for that joke.
I do know that Microwaves use a frequency around 2.4 GHz - 2.5 GHz, they can disturb Wifi if they leak. But I assume that is just because the unlicensed ISM band is there, and hasn’t got anything to do with water specifically.
“What is my purpose?”
You make a mid cup of tea.
dejected appliance noises
Microwaves are also one of the best methods for cooking vegetables due to minimal nutrients being sucked out by water (unless you’re drinking your boiled broccoli water of course) and no charring (yummy cancer) but it’s seen as inferior by most.
That said I’ve literally never cooked tofu in the microwave and I’m hesitant to even try lol
A microwave is also surprisingly good at melting chocolate.
Don’t boil… blanch.
Most veggies I cook are either sautéed or roasted.
Steamed microwave veggies are great! For when you just want a lazy veggie side and don’t wanna cook after work.
I have no idea where we received this stigma and I am appalled. You can falsely accuse me of anything, ANYTHING, except microwaving tea. I will not let that stand.
::: spoiler I heat my water inside the oven like a true US citizen. :::
Air fryer tea
You fuckin wot, bruv?
And don’t forget to put the tea bag in first.
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