Can We Physically Detect Radio Waves?

[LogicalAcid]

Because they don't have enough energy to be noticed? If I understand right, they are not energized enough to ecxite electrons?

 

[Dr Lots-o'watts]

Radio waves are detected by metallic antennas. We don't have any organs that mimic this.

 

[NobodySpecial]

At high enough power levels you would detect their heating effect

 

[Anonymous9001]

At high enough power levels you would detect their heating effect

I know I'm supposed to be serious and stuff, but I laughed so hard when you said power levels.

 

[sophiecentaur]

At high enough power levels you would detect their heating effect

Yes. Plenty of 'elderly' RF engineers talk of feeling their legs get warm in situations of high levels of RF power, around transmitters. Health and Safety regs prevent us getting into such situations these days! The heating is due to molecular vibrations which is more of a direct heating effect than the generation of electrical currents and I guess there will also be movement of ions through body fliuids.

As for detecting RF directly, our nerves, although working 'electrically' have very slow responses. However, people have been known to detect radio transmissions (they hear music) due to the rectifying effect of metallic dental fillings in high levels of medium frequency radio transmissions. I guess that would be the nearest thing to direct experience of RF.

Our eyes respond to em (light) by a photo chemical process - doesn't fit the original question - and high energy radiations (UV, X and gamma) interact with our chemistry too, causing damage which we don't feel at the time.