What is the maximum amount of electricity the average human body can withstand?

Question

I'm asking because I want to know why some people die when struck by lightning why some don't and why some go deaf.

Ok so you'll die obviously but, how much before your body becomes ash?

cherodman4u,

lets just say that its not illegal to electricute your self. However I don't plan on doing it to just me, you see I will have a partner, who is artificialy made (clone).

Answer 1

As little as .030 A (30 milliamps) through the heart can be fatal.

It depends on the path the current takes from the source to ground. If for example, lighting struck in the knee and exited through the foot, it would probably destroy the leg, but might not be fatal.

Answer 2

The problem with this question is that electrocution rarely happens in a vacuum. Every circumstance is different, and there is no such thing as the average human body.

A heavy smoker is far more likely to die of electrocution than a non-smoker in the same circumstances. This is simply a for-instance.
Depending on the overall condition of a person's heart and other physical characteristics, one person could survive that which kills another.

Alternating Current or AC is also far less likely to instantly kill someone because of the frequency variations than Direct Current or DC. DC is typically used where motors are involved, or the Eastern Hemisphere.

There are simply too many variables to consider here. I've been hammered pretty well by 277VAC @ a fairly high AMP draw, though I've known people to have heart attacks by touching an exposed spark plug wire.

Answer 3

H-m-m-m-m, planning a little "experiment," Darth, my boy, are we? You know, electrocution of another human being is ILLEGAL in most states, Her Frankenstein! Come on, you can tell me your plans...

Seriously, tell me your REAL plans!

Okay, if you really want to know, you can't be "exact" because there are a number of relevant factors that change the equation by their "existence" or relative "non-existence" 'into the mix... '

I suppose you can approximate... but what will kill an OX, may sometimes leave a small child only dazed... well, perhaps some brain damage is to be expected... but that's beside the point... to account for ALL the variables in your algorithm, or "fuzzy heuristic" is damn near a monumental undertaking... worthy of a doctoral dissertation!!! So stop thinking about it unless you intend to make this pursuit your life's work!

Answer 4

100 mA is the accepted norm for causing death. In the worst case scenerio the human body has a resistance of 300 ohms. Using Ohm's law :

I=V/R

algebraecially rearrranging to solve for voltage

V=IR

therefore V= .1A(300 Ohms) = 30 volts

However, the amperage and resistance can be changed by many variables, so as these change, the amount of voltage would change proportionally.

Answer 5

according to the electricians handbook from hand to hand 100 miliamps to 200 ma hand to hand will cause the heart to fibulate. anything less only makes u hurt yourself. All over 200 ma will cause Burns usually on point of entry and where it comes out the feet to the ground.if u get a severe burn in the hear or where it damages special organs it is all over.
Lightning is very dangerous study it is not a toy

Answer 6

The question is not just amount, but rapidity of change. When your body sodium concentration changes, your neurons change their osmolality to match the plasma- by production of idiogenic osmoles in hypernatremia and reduction of them in hyponatremia. This is a process that occurs over time. Hence, a slow, progressive change in sodium will allow your neurons to adapt, thus decreasing the likelihood of causing the most significant signs of sodium change- neurologic disorders. In salt toxicity (occasionally seen in piglets) or free water loss (resulting in a relative increase in sodium), an acute change above ~160 mEq/L will cause signs. I have seen chronic hypernatremia with sodium levels above 160 without clinical signs. As far as how much you 'need', your kidneys are extremely efficient at conserving sodium. If you are starved, other problems will kill you before you have to worry about your sodium levels. :) As noted above, though, if your sodium rapidly decreases, it can cause neurologic problems, including death.

Answer 7

I think is just the way the electricty travels through your body. My dad was hit by high-line wires and had 13,900 volts go through him. It knocked him out of course and this was on a friday. the doc said he wouldnt live through the weekend but he walked out of the hospital monday morning. Burnt holes in his legs though

Answer 8

It depends on the exposure time, the amount of amperes, the voltage has a bit to do with it. (With tasers, generally it's extremely high voltage, but very low amperes, which means the electricity can't kill your directly, but it can screw you over if you have electronic devices implanted in you)

Answer 9

15 milliamperes can stop your heart.

If it doesn't go through your heart (or brain), then your body can withstand it up until the point that your body starts to cook from the heat generated by the electrical current.

Answer 10

Because they may be hit with huge voltages, but it is not the voltage that kills you - it is the amperage (current). The current may have missed them altogether. Doesn't mean they won't have some serious scars to show for it.