Jay Honeck wrote:

Okay, here's a weird one for the group: Radio waves are the same as light
waves, except they're not in the visible spectrum, right?

I've never heard of anyone frying their retinas by looking at a radio
transmitter, but this begs the question: Can the lens in your eye focus
radio waves?

If not, why not?


Ok, I'll try to keep it simple and free from techno babble:

1. I'm an electronics engineer for CBS television network, trust me.

2. Radio waves, micro waves, visible light, x-rays are all
"electromagnetic (EM) radiation". BUT...
as the frequency changes, the physical properties change. Thats one
reason they have
different names.

3. The lenses of your eyes DO NOT focus radio waves, micro waves, or
x-rays. Only
visible light and adjacent EM radiation like infra-red and
ultra-violet.

4. Low level radiation does not harm your eyes. But if you get close
enough to a live, high power
radio transmitter, the radio waves CAN cause damage. Like the flame
from an arc-welder.
If you look at an arc-welding flame from 1,000 ft away, no
problem. If you look at
an arc welding flame from 2 feet away (no protection) you get
fitted for a white cane.
Just stay a few feet away from any HIGH POWER radio transmitter and
there is
no health problem. Low level transmitters like cell phones do not
cause medical problems,
only internet rumors.

5. Consider the following examples of how different forms of EM
radiation have different
physical properties:

-Soda Glass will totally block ultra-violet light while passing
radio waves, microwaves,
visible light, and x-rays.

-A sheet of black paper will block visible light, but pass radio
waves, microwaves, and
x-rays.

-A glass of water will partially block radio waves, totally block
microwaves, partially block
light waves, and pass x-rays.

-A sheet of aluminum foil will totally block radio waves,
microwaves, light waves, but
pass x-rays. (nothing but a couple tons of lead totally blocks
x-rays)