Waves that can pass through the body

[ChromeBit]

I was just wondering, are there any waves that can pass through the human body in a straight line, without being distorted or refracted in anyway?

 

[mfb]

"Not in any significant way" yes. "not at all" no, as a human body is made out of matter and all (known) waves interact with matter.

 

[ChromeBit]

"Not in any significant way" yes. "not at all" no, as a human body is made out of matter and all (known) waves interact with matter.

What kind of wavelength would be needed for this and would polarising the wave (to ensure only 1 beam went through) make it too weak to get through?

 

[mfb]

That depends on the type of wave. In general, all types of waves don't care much about objects significantly smaller than their wavelength, so you are looking for long wavelengths.

For electromagnetic waves, either long waves or very short ones (gamma rays - then you will get some absorption, but nearly no refraction) will work.

Gravitational waves of any wavelength won't care about a human body as its mass is negligible (insert your mom joke here).

 

[Bobbywhy]

Our human body is about four-fifths water. Yes, waves may indeed pass through the body. An obese person may be considered mechanically similar to or equivalent to a big oval bag full of water with extremities. If a large but short compressive force is applied to one area we may expect a hydraulic shock wave that emanates from the application point and travel throughout the entire volume. The energy contained in the pressure wave will perturb and even deform any extremity. We can study fluid dynamics easily in nature. The idea is, be ready to recognize opportunities for research whenever and wherever they appear.

Cheers, Bobbywhy

 

[vortextor]

What about the neutrino beam density waves

 

[mfb]

There is no neutrino beam with something I would call "density wave". Most neutrino beams are pulsed, but that is not wave-like.
The interaction probability of a neutrino in a human body is negligible.