Physics is essential for students who want to succeed in science and engineering. Excitement and interest in the content matter contribute to enhancing this success. We have developed a laboratory experiment that takes advantage of microwave ovens to demonstrate important physical concepts and increase interest in physics. This experiment investigates leaked electromagnetic radiation from microwave ovens. We compare the data that are obtained to national standards in order to relate the fields of physics, health and engineering. The experiment is designed to provide for added enquiry and stimulation of thought-provoking questions. (Contains 1 table and 3 figures.)