[Gllug] re: rf energy

[Stephen Harker]

On Monday 13 Oct 2003 1:12 pm, Henrik Morsing wrote:
> > Some will kill you instantly. (Gamma Rays)
>
> How will Gamma rays kill you (instantly)?
> AFAIK light is gamma rays and even if some gamma rays are harmful they
> won't kill you instantly (only in Star wars).

Light is electromagnetic radiation. Gamma rays are also electromagnetic 
radiation but at a much higher frequency. Gamma radiation is radiated freely 
from radioactive substances such as Uranium and Plutonium and is very harmful 
to living cells. A strong burst of Gamma radiation in your direction will 
kill you fairly quickly. A strong burst of light in your direction will not 
kill you (but may make you go blind). A strong burst of microwave radiation 
(a lower frequency than light but higher frequency than, for instance, FM 
Radio broadcasts) will excite the water molecules in your body (of which your 
body is a large proportion) and heat them up and kill you as well. This is 
how microwave ovens work.

SteveH


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