Microwaving Light Bulbs Is Genuinely Useful (And Entertaining)

The light is generated in light bulbs by electrons racing along the filament, heating it up and making it glow. Put the light bulb in a lamp, and the outlet the lamp is plugged into will yank electrons back and forth. Put the bulb in a microwave, and the electromagnetic waves will also pull the electrons back and forth. Enough of this, and the filament will light up.

Glad to see someone get this explanation right — I’ve run across far too many that try and invoke electrons hopping between states, as in a Neon light.