Why are gamma rays generally harmful to life-forms , but radio waves are generally harmless?

Answer 1

Because gamma rays have a small wavelength and a high energy yield, while radio waves have a large wavelength, but a low energy yield

Answer 2

This is because gamma rays are a form of hard radiation. Gamma rays, along with x-rays and cosmic rays, are one the high end of the electromagnetic spectrum, meaning that they have a lot more energy compared to the lower end (visible light, radio waves and infrared).

Hard radiation has a short wavelength, allowing rays to pass through soft tissue with ease (and why denser bone shows up in x-ray photos). However, the rays do interact, colliding with atoms and creating secondary radiation in the process. Collisions with DNA for example cause mutations, which can lead to cancer, radiation sickness, etc. Infrared and radio waves don't have as much 'punch' and usually can't really penetrate tissue like hard radiation can.

However, it is all a matter of context...the human body can absorb or deflect radio waves and infrared to a point, but there are limits (A candle can burn you, for example...and radio waves are just a form of microwave, so you could get 'cooked' if you have a magnetron powerful enough!)

Answer 3

The reason gamma-rays are more harmful then radio waves is because light can be thought of as particles (photons) as well as electromagnetic waves. A radio photon doesn't have much energy and doesn't travel through matter well (that's why you don't pick up radio well in a tunnel). A gamma-ray photon has enough energy to damage atoms in your body and make them radioactive, and gamma-rays can easily penetrate into your body. It's like the difference between getting hit by sand or a bullet. It takes a lot of sand to do any damage, but only one bullet.

Answer 4

Gamma rays and x-rays are known to react detrimentally with DNA.
Radio waves are abundant all the time with no apparent bad effects.
The wave length is such that we only receive a small part of the beam as it passes through.

Answer 5

We don't know for SURE radio waves aren't bad. They don't seem to be, but it's hard to say if magnetic waves have any effect after years.

WIth gamma rays it's the frequency. It disrupts and hurts cells. It cooks you.

The faster waves vibrate the more potential harm they can do to living cells.

Answer 6

They are both relative Gamma and radio waves go the speed of light in a vacuum, slower in a solid (glass) and can be made to travel about the speed of a walking human in a lab.

Answer 7

gamma rays will make a human turn green and get very strong aka the hulk

Answer 8

au contraire, microwaves will cook your innards.

As with ANYTHING that your body interacts with, it's the degree of interaction that determines the degree of harm. A cup of water drunk every hour is deemed to be VERY healthy. 10 gallons per hour will screww up your electrolyte balance. 100 gallons per hour will probably kill you.

Answer 9

it is because the wavelentgh of radio waves is smaller