Does the current travel "across" the skin or inside the arm (or torso)? And where does the free charges come from?It is the voltage between two points of your body that causes shock. The voltage difference can cause a current under the skin that affects your muscles. If it's between your elbow and a finger, it can be painful. If the current path includes your heart, it can be fatal.
The free charges (free electrons) already exist in your body, naturally. The external applied potential difference (voltage) only pushes them into motion which is called elecrtic current.When there is a potential difference (i.e. a voltage), then where are the free charges drawn from?
Hey it is really a good thing to read about thank you.There is no absolutely clear answer. Although the current capability of the circuit has little to do with it. Only the voltage present can present a shock hazard.
It is the voltage between two points of your body that causes shock. The voltage difference can cause a current under the skin that affects your muscles. If it's between your elbow and a finger, it can be painful. If the current path includes your heart, it can be fatal.
As dry skin conducts much less that wet, the amount of voltage that can cause fatal currents through your body varies. 12 volt circuits are supposed to be non-hazardous, but I have managed to get a good jolt from an automobile wiring harness when a stiff strand that was part of power wiring broke. I managed to catch the curled wire (fishhook in electronic terms) with a finger. I had my arm braced in some part that was part of the chassis, and so got a really unpleasant tingle from it. That was because part of the 12 volt conductor was poked through my skin.
To be safe, consider that any voltage can cause lethal current through your chest. Always assume exposed wires are hot, and verify their electrical state with a meter before making contact with your skin. Never assume shoes or clothing to be effective insulation.
I don't agree with that. If you have a 1000V source for example which can deliver only 1uA then you won't get shocked.There is no absolutely clear answer. Although the current capability of the circuit has little to do with it. Only the voltage present can present a shock hazard.
It is the voltage between two points of your body that causes shock. The voltage difference can cause a current under the skin that affects your muscles. If it's between your elbow and a finger, it can be painful. If the current path includes your heart, it can be fatal.
Of course, when you connect the "1000V source" to your body, the voltage will drop because it can only supply 1μA. Your body has become part of a voltage divider. Just because a 10MΩ meter says 1000V doesn't mean that a 10kΩ body will register the same voltage.If you have a 1000V source for example which can deliver only 1uA then you won't get shocked.
very true!......and of special concern since you are still alive after that.Of course, we hope the real question is "How much voltage/current does it take to really piss you off?!" From experience, it must be less than it takes to kill you!
Whoever says it can deliver only 1uA gets to stick their tongue on it before I will! I won't even go first at Van de Graaff demonstrations.If you have a 1000V source for example which can deliver only 1uA then you won't get shocked.
Whoever says it can deliver only 1uA gets to stick their tongue on it before I will! I won't even go first at Van de Graaff demonstrations.
I am just saying.Whoever says it can deliver only 1uA gets to stick their tongue on it before I will! I won't even go first at Van de Graaff demonstrations.
Time also matters. The risk of cardiac arrest increases greatly at long exposure times. If you grip a live wire with your hand, muscular contraptions may prevent you from letting go, witch is a very dangerous situation.
Frequencies can matter. You may not feal pain from high freq currents, 20kHz+, witch is potentially dangerous. Imagine being shocked without even being aware of it. This is why many people think Tesla Coil streamers are safe, witch is not true. Horrible RF burns and tissue damage could be the result.
Also, at fast risetimes and frequensies far into the MHz range, skin effect comes into consideration. High frequency currents tend to stick to the surface of conductors, while the core current is far less. This is believed to be a partial reason why people can survive direct lightning strikes, and still be perfectly able to kill themselves on their house mains. Lightning has a very fast risetime, in the order of 40 kA/ms.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_effect
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_coil#The_.27skin_effect.27_and_high_frequency_electrical_safety
On the subject of lightning, one big survivability factor is actually wet clothes. Wet clothing from rain may route the bulk of the current outside the body, and in some cases leave the victim unharmed.
But the most common electricity-related injuries are physical injuries, as the shock often makes the victim fall or bang into something, or say very, very bad words
It would seem that wet clothing would provide a path to ground. Some advice on avoiding injury suggest the opposite, that is, insulating oneself from ground.Wet clothing from rain may route the bulk of the current outside the body, and in some cases leave the victim unharmed.
by Jake Hertz
by Duane Benson
by Duane Benson
by Jake Hertz