What Are the Human Body's Wave Lengths and Their Significance?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers around the concept of wave functions in relation to the human body. It is established that everything, including humans, has a wave function according to quantum physics, but for macroscopic objects like the human body, this wave behavior is negligible and not measurable. The conversation touches on the C60 molecule as the largest object where wave-like behavior has been observed. Participants clarify that while humans can act as antennas for certain electromagnetic frequencies, this is a characteristic of any elongated conductor, not unique to humans. The wavelength associated with human bodies is not part of the electromagnetic spectrum, and claims about "body wavelengths" often lack scientific grounding. The discussion emphasizes the importance of observable, measurable phenomena in scientific claims, dismissing unverified assertions about human wave functions and resonance in health contexts.
Albert George
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Hi

We have talked in school about waves and I heard that our bodies have a wave length. What does it mean? I know it's very little.

I do not mean our brain but our entire body. Any good explanation would be appreciated.
 
Biology news on Phys.org
Welcome to PF!

Hi Albert George! Welcome to PF! :smile:

Yes, technically anything has a wave function, and has "wave behaviour" as well as "particle behaviour" … but for a human body the "wave behaviour" is soooo little that it has no noticeable effect whatever.

I think that the largest object for which any effect has ever been noticed is a C60 atom …

chuck C60 atoms through a double-slit, and you get the same "wave behaviour" effects as for light or electrons :smile:
 


tiny-tim said:
C60 atom …

You call it an atom? I call it a molecule :wink:
 
oops!

Borek said:
You call it an atom? I call it a molecule :wink:

oops! :biggrin:
 
Okay, but what does it mean that we humans have a wave function? What is causing it and is it always the same (a constant)? Is it on the electromagnetic spectrum or where can you place it?
 
Albert George said:
Okay, but what does it mean that we humans have a wave function?

It doesn't really mean as much as it seems to imply. Everything has a wavelength/wave function according to quantum physics. It means that things exhibit wave-like behavior under certain circumstances. But for a big, macroscopic object, the wavelength is too short for this to be measurable.

As they said, the biggest object they've been able to measure 'wave-like' behavior for is C60 - 60 atoms.
That's an object that weighs about as little in comparison to you, as you do in comparison to Jupiter.

What is causing it and is it always the same (a constant)?

The wavelength is h (Planck's constant) divided by p, the momentum of the object. As for why.. that's a fairly open question in physics.

Is it on the electromagnetic spectrum or where can you place it?

No, because although things have wave-like behavior they're not necessarily electromagnetic waves.
 
Albert George said:
Hi

We have talked in school about waves and I heard that our bodies have a wave length. What does it mean? I know it's very little.

I do not mean our brain but our entire body. Any good explanation would be appreciated.

In general, if people are talking about wavelengths of the human body, they usually completely lack any real science. Especially if the subject of 'resonant behavior' or resonance, or something like that in connection with health and disease is also mentioned.
 
You might also be thinking of the wavelength of infrared light our bodies emit because of our temperature - that's around 10um.
 
It's pure BS - humans have no "wave function."
 
  • #10
JorgeLobo said:
It's pure BS - humans have no "wave function."
Has someone told Erwin Schrödinger ?
 
  • #11
jorgelobo said:
it's pure bs - humans have no "wave function."

What about HΨ=EΨ?
 
  • #12
Human beings are also a 'perfect' antenna for some frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.

Now, everything that is conductive can act as an antenna, but it 'recieves' frequencies better than others. Basically if we were a thin piece of wire that is 1.5 m tall, 100Mhz is the frequency which we could pick up the best.

Say the average human is 1.5m tall. Now the 'perfect' antenna size, x is half a wavelength of the frequency you are using, x=\frac{\lambda}{2}.
This implies that the wavelength we are looking for is \lambda=2\;x=2(1.5)=3\;m. The frequency that this wavelength corresponds to is,
f_{\mathrm{MHz}} \approx \frac{300}{\lambda}
or about 100Mhz*

*Note: this is assuming some special geometry (which we don't possess) and that we are purely conductive (which we aren't).
 
  • #13
Eidos said:
Human beings are also a 'perfect' antenna for some frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.

Now, everything that is conductive can act as an antenna, but it 'recieves' frequencies better than others. Basically if we were a thin piece of wire that is 1.5 m tall, 100Mhz is the frequency which we could pick up the best.

Say the average human is 1.5m tall. Now the 'perfect' antenna size, x is half a wavelength of the frequency you are using, x=\frac{\lambda}{2}.
This implies that the wavelength we are looking for is \lambda=2\;x=2(1.5)=3\;m. The frequency that this wavelength corresponds to is,
f_{\mathrm{MHz}} \approx \frac{300}{\lambda}
or about 100Mhz*

*Note: this is assuming some special geometry (which we don't possess) and that we are purely conductive (which we aren't).

This is what I meant by not having a sound basis in science.
 
  • #14
How is that not a sound basis in science? Your body acting as an antenna is an observable, measurable, repeatable fact. Granted my order of magnitude calculation is not 100% accurate since I was assuming a dipole geometry.

If I am in the wrong then we need a volunteer to go stand within a couple of meters to a high power HF transmitter to show that the human body cannot act as an antenna. :P

I was using reciprocity when I used the half-wavelength calculation. Also I had that c\approx 300\times10^8m/s which is again a rough approximation.
 
  • #15
Eidos, so you're saying:
Human beings are also a 'perfect' antenna for some frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.

But by the given rationale, you could say the same about any elongated conductor.

So the only thing you're actually saying about humans is that we're significantly taller than we are wide, and that we conduct electricity. Which is news to no-one, really.
 
  • #16
alxm said:
Eidos, so you're saying:
But by the given rationale, you could say the same about any elongated conductor.

So the only thing you're actually saying about humans is that we're significantly taller than we are wide, and that we conduct electricity. Which is news to no-one, really.

The same is true for any elongated conductor ;)

Im convinced this thread was concerning body-wavelength. The antenna interpretation is here simply for the sake of offering an alternative to the other proffered explanation.

Enjoy

\'''\(..^...^...)/'''/
 
  • #17
Eidos said:
The same is true for any elongated conductor ;)
Is that how physicists pick up women now?
 
  • #18
What silliness. Let's see the data and not the BS.
 

Similar threads

Surviving in Space: The Truth About Human Adaptation and Evolution
Replies
7
Views
3K
Neuron's location and signal exchange with the rest of the body
Replies
8
Views
2K
Medical How is blood volume calculated and measured in the human body?
Replies
8
Views
2K
What types of light can safely pass through the human body?
Replies
4
Views
4K
Could our body deal with trace amounts of unknown chemicals?
Replies
3
Views
1K
Human body growth in the absence of a brain
Replies
4
Views
2K
Medical How does the human body respond during the latent period of an infection?
Replies
4
Views
3K
Humans Lost Body Hair: What Happened & Why?
Replies
3
Views
3K
Artificial gravity -- consequences for the human body
Replies
15
Views
3K
AI and the Human Body
Replies
9
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top