2006-12-18 05:32:29 · 7 answers · asked by scrapmetal 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Flesh is actually a dielectric (and a pretty good one). The body conducts electricity so when you put any part of your body into a circuit, the current continues to flow. As far as lightning, the static electricity in the air is looking for a way down to ground. So it looks for the highest, nearest, grounded point. If you are grounded and not insulated from the ground, this could be you. Then the electricity creates a circuit through you to the ground.
With regular electricity such as out of an outlet, again, your body becomes included in the circuit and you get a nice little buzz out of the situation.
2006-12-18 07:20:25 · answer #1 · answered by Mike J 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The parts of your body that send "feelings" back to your brain are called nerves. The nerves function something like electrical wires, except they use chemicals. When electricity enters your body, it temporarily overloads the nerves and a bad signal gets sent to your brain. Usually the nerves can recover from the shock, but if the shock is too big the nerve might not be able to send feelings anymore.
2006-12-18 05:38:42 · answer #2 · answered by jrr7_05_02 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Don't try this at home, but electricity will shock you by putting a house key in a wall outlet. I did that when I was four, and that's all I needed to know about electricity.
2006-12-18 05:45:22 · answer #3 · answered by Bugmän 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Electricity is a flow of electrons...if your body becomes the conductor for this, the electrons will flow through through you,disrupting your normal chemical balance, and send a jolt, or shock to both your brain, and muscles...(It has to flow THROUGH you from a higher to a lower potential)..if you were a bird on a wire (without being grounded) you wouldn't get shocked...
2006-12-18 07:39:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The body conducts electricity, its not necessarily a harmful thing, but when the energy flowing through the body is too much in can hurt tissue, bones, etc.
Explaining this to a 4 year old can be challanging i bet, but if he is interested i would encourage his curiosity.
When explaining it remember he is just a little kid, but that doesnt mean he is stupid and that you need to explain it like "its a thingie that goes bu bu".
2006-12-18 05:46:55 · answer #5 · answered by alexqr79 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am no scientist but I have got shocked by by electricity. When you plug in something when your hand are wet or plug in something thewrong way thats how and the way you can get struck by lightening is if you hold a metal bar that is pointed whenit is lightening you can get hurt. and also if you hold a unbrella. thats how
2006-12-18 05:45:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's nothing like hands on experience. Have you got a stun gun on hand?
2006-12-18 14:39:38 · answer #7 · answered by sosoocto 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋