If we ignore 5GHz WiFi, then both microwaves and WiFi create photons at ~2.4GHz but one of them will boil water in a few seconds but the other doesn't have any effect. So what's the difference?
Is it simply the number of photons created? Is that what the wattage of a microwave measures? If so, what would be the wattage of a wireless router?
Does the enclosed space have anything to do with it?
If it all has to do with power output could I put enough WiFi routers together in a room to cook a turkey (from microwaves and not waste heat)?
Best Answer
Power - your wifi router puts out about 0.1 - 1.0 W, your microwave oven puts out 1000W.
It would take a lot of wifi routers to cook a turkey - more than you think because the antennea on the router is designed to spread the power evenly around the room rather than concentrate it on the center of the oven.
There is a danger of being 'cooked' from being close to very high power transmitters such as some warship's radar while they are operating.
ps. It's the same reason your laser pointer can't be used to cut steel plates (or James Bond) in half!