2006-10-26 20:05:40 · 9 answers · asked by shelly 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The amount of current passing through the chest cavity that is sufficient to cause 'fibrillation' of the heart muscle is 11 milliamps (at least, that's the number I've always heard ☺). The amount of voltage needed to cause that current to flow varies quite widely depending on point(s) of contact, skin resistivity, general hydration of the body, etc etc. (It's all Ohms law once you have the couple dozen other variables nailed down.) However.... Very high voltages frequently arc across the surface of the body and cause massive burns. This is the reason that people who get nailed by several Kv sometimes manage to survive.
I'm not sure there even *is* a definitive answer to your question that's much beyond the word 'lethal'. Best answer is to always remember the two great laws of electricity: E = IR and keep one hand in your pocket ☺
Doug
2006-10-26 20:20:37 · answer #1 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tricky question. Shock is the sensation that you feel when electircity passes through you.
Usually, the more the Amperes, the more damage is done to tissue. Higher voltage may give you a shock, but withourt damage.
If a large amerage was applied to the body at a low voltag, the electrical resistance of the body may be enough to prevent a shock. As the voltage increases, damage to tissue would result.
If a low amp circuit, with high voltage is connected, you'll feeel it as a shck but no damage...this is the prnciple of an electric fence. I have touched one and lived even thou it may be tens of thousands of volts (and little amps)
2006-10-26 20:14:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is on amperes. 10milli amp is sufficient to kill a person. As per ohms law, ampere is proportion to voltage / resistance hence increase in voltage will increse the current if the resistance is considered constant. However the shock is felt in a body when the current flows in it and hence the actual strength of shock is current only. Best regards. Hamsa Mohamed.
2006-10-26 20:23:44 · answer #3 · answered by kovaihmd 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take a cup of water and pour lots of salt into it. Then hold two fingers of the SAME hand into the salt water. Touch both poles of a 9V battery and you will get a shock. The shock could be very weak or quite painful depending on your skin and for how long your fingers were soaked in the salt water. But even with dry hands you can get a shock from low voltage DC if e.g. you have an injury and are bleeding. Electricity flows easily through blood. Never let the current run from one hand to the other.
2016-05-22 00:10:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Amperes..
2006-10-26 20:13:20 · answer #5 · answered by vixklen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even though it's the voltage that "drives" the current through your body, you can't feel that. It's the current that you feel and that does any damage to you.
2006-10-26 20:08:43 · answer #6 · answered by Chug-a-Lug 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the amps that do the damage!!
2006-10-26 20:13:35 · answer #7 · answered by pop_py19 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
amps
2006-10-26 20:12:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't let anybody fool u . it's the black wire that (((((((((((shocks))))))))))))))))
2006-10-26 21:08:37 · answer #9 · answered by SOFAKE 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋