If you can answer this question right and the first one to answer right gets best answer?

Question

Do you know why a person can get shocked with a million Volts and live just because the Current level is low. I learned about this in high shcool, and even got shocked by half a million Volts and was fine, I just can't remember the science behind it. All I really know is that its current that harms you, not Voltage. Let me know the scientific explanation or a website that has the explanation. Thanks.

Sorry zinc, I'm no science wiz but what the other gentlemen said refreshed my memories of my electronics class I took 4 years ago. Besides, if what you are saying is true I would be dead and so would my brother. I've been shocked with half a million Volts before and my bro with a million. Nikola Tesla would be ashamed.

Answer 1

You are mistaken with those assumptions..
For example 90% of folks who get struck by lightning survive and lightning reaches billions of volts of electricity.The reason for survival is that the electricity goes down the persons skin (on the outside of the body,because of the body sweat/wet acts as a good conductor.One may also bes holding a conductor,like a golf club or wooden stick) he is then grounded, he.
When the electricity travels through the body, it can destroy organs and cells with terrible damage and death.[so low current levels are irrelevant,while Voltage is a measurement of current]

Answer 2

Voltage is just a measure of "electrical potential" -- basically how much difference there is between the positive and negative poles of an electrical device. Current is a measure of the *amount* of electricity that flows between those poles (measured in Amperes or Amps) -- a circuit that has a potential of 10,000 volts but can only supply a few milliamps of current is harmless. But a circuit that only has 12 volts of potential with the ability to supply 2 amps of current can be deadly. Your body can easily conduct a few milliamps of current harmlessly -- but anything more than about 1 amp of current heats your cells to the bursting point, causes burns and cell damage, can disrupt the small electrical signals used to regulate your heart beat, and can kill you.

Answer 3

Voltage is just a measure of "electrical potential" -- basically how much difference there is between the positive and negative poles of an electrical device. Current is a measure of the *amount* of electricity that flows between those poles (measured in Amperes or Amps) -- a circuit that has a potential of 10,000 volts but can only supply a few milliamps of current is harmless. But a circuit that only has 12 volts of potential with the ability to supply 2 amps of current can be deadly. Your body can easily conduct a few milliamps of current harmlessly -- but anything more than about 1 amp of current heats your cells to the bursting point, causes burns and cell damage, can disrupt the small electrical signals used to regulate your heart beat, and can kill you.

Answer 4

Electrical current is a measure of HOW MUCH electricity is moving while Voltage is a measure of POWER to do something.
I dont believe current is non harmfull but if the voltage is low and the current is high the current will flow across the skin (like static electricity). increasing the voltage would increase the POWER of the charge and allow the current to move deeper into the body thus effecting the nervous system and, if deep enough, the cardiovascular system. The nervous system is especially succeptable to electrical charges as the nerves are the like electrical wires of the body.

Answer 5

Yes, it is the current that does the damage.

The current (I) is equal to the Voltage (V) divided by the Resistance (R). So if you have a lot of resistance you'll have very little current. For example If you have 1 million volts across 100 million ohms of resistance, you would have only 0.01 amperes of current.

If your body presents enough resistance to the voltage applied, or if there is an alternate path for the current to flow that presents less resistance, you will be just fine. Electricity always follows the path of least resistance.

I hope that explains it without getting too technical.

Answer 6

A good place to try is wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_shock

Answer 7

:)