Why does visible light not eletrocute man,when it is said to have electrical and magnetic componenets.

[raghavv]

Dear Sir/Madam,

Light is defined as an electromagnetic wave which has electric and magnetic field mutually perpendicular to each other and also to the direction of propagation of the light.

In that case why does the electrical component of a visible light not electrocute us(living things) and magnetic component attract objects as any magnet does.

Thanks,
Raghavendra.V

[boxtops]

This sounds like course work!

[raghavv]

thanks for your response boxtops.

This is not my course work. The question just occurred to me when I was reading about electricity , electromagnetism and light.

[boxtops]

Fair enough, raghavv, I apologise - we do often get people posting on here asking questions for course work.

[wildwood]

For the same reason that radio and TV signals don't hurt us.

Just guessing but I presume live creatures don't have the right components in the body to absorb the electrons, photons or whatever that is particular to electromagnetic waves.

[modeller]

The voltage in light is miniscule and without sufficient you can't have a current great enough to affect you. Radio waves can pass through you as can magnetism but it is all so weak we are totally unaware .
However some components of light at the higher frequencies can damage organisms eg Ultra Violet which can cause skin cancer over a period of time.
With regards to magnetism it does interact with the earths magnetic field which we see as the northern lights.
Also the solar radiation can affect much of our communications.

[DTCwordfan]

This is a shocking revelation......

[bibblebub]

light comprises photons
an electrical current comprises electrons

[raghavv]

thank you all for your contributions.

Can I sum up the reasons saying the living creatures body does not have appropriate componenets to absorb the electric or magnetci componenet of the electro magnetic waves as 'wildwood' mentioned and also the voltage is not high enough as per modeller's statement.

@dockspock you said you googled and it led you somewhere , I am sorry I didn't get your point. were u trying to give some link below and you missed it. Please clarify.


Thanks,
Raghav

[vascop]

docspock means that his google search found your post on answerbank - get it?

[raghavv]

thanks Vascop, so simple I didn't get it. Lol.