Which is most likely to burn you? Microwaves, gamma rays or x rays?
Asked by: Robyn Lewis
Answer
Why do you get burnt by radiation? It is because
the radiation interacts with the stuff in your
body (mostly water). Gamma rays have energies that
are too high to interact (change the energy
levels) of molecules, X-rays interact with mainly
atoms (like the calcium in your bones) - though
both the above can lead to cancer if exposure is
more than a safe dose.
The case is different with microwaves - the
rotational and vibrational energies of molecules lie in their
range - they can heat up the water in your cells
just like the microwave radiation in an oven heats
up food.
So, microwaves would probably do the most damage to your
body.
Answered by: Amar Chandra, Physics Undergraduate, IIT Kanpur
'In a way science is a key to the gates of heaven, and the same key opens the gates of hell, and we do not have any instructions as to which is which gate.
Shall we throw away the key and never have a way to enter the gates of heaven? Or shall we struggle with the problem of which is the best way to use the key?'