2007-04-22 03:58:40 · 10 answers · asked by marc c 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
exactly the same as down here! if you were not grounded/earthed you wouldn't get a shock!
2007-04-22 04:02:52 · answer #1 · answered by Michael F 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When you are on Earth and ground the electricity has a way to escape from the body, usually people dont die but can. In space there is nothing to ground you, so the current would just keep streaming through your body ultimately destroying nerves and killing you. There is a very small percentage that your body would accept the electricity as its own current and you would be perfectly fine, this higher amount of electricity might even awaken dormant parts of the brain and increse brain function and even open the possibilities of telekinesis and telapathy.
2007-04-22 16:43:42 · answer #2 · answered by Dimitrius J 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A ground is not necessary to get an electric shock. It just need a "return path" which on earth, is quite often, _the_ earth.
The power source has two poles, usually positive and negative. You touch one of the poles. Your body conducts and eventually escapes from the other end which is, co-incidentally, somehow, connected to the other pole - thus completing the circuit.
Without a completed path, it is not possible to get a shock.
If you are INSIDE the speceship, perhaps the metal body is connected to the other pole for safety. On earth, it is often called the safety ground. If you are in free space, it is impossible to get a shock.
Imagine a bird standing on the high-tention power line.
By the way, in most of the hospital equipment, the whole equipment is totally insulated and not grounded. This is to avoid shock to the patient from wires attached to the patient.
2007-04-22 11:03:19 · answer #3 · answered by tkquestion 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As others alluded to all you need to be is part of the best return path. No ground/earth is required. If you were in a spacesuit between two ships with huge opposite charges and a lightning bolt went from ship to ship it would likely go though you on the way. So yes you can get toasted. A bird does not get toasted because it is a poor path in comparison to the wire it is standing on therefore the electricity does not go though it. But if the bird pecked at a better path while standing on the line you would have KFC.
2007-04-22 19:58:11 · answer #4 · answered by Art Newbie Bill 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
all you need are a positive and negative terminals of a power source to be shocked.
in case of earth, the ground is one of those terminals
in space if you touch the positive and negative of a high voltage electric shock, you'll still get the same Jolt you get down here
2007-04-22 11:22:52 · answer #5 · answered by nopic 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You would be shocked. You don't need "earth" as a ground for electricity to flow, you need a difference in voltage. Astronauts wear protective gear, but if they touch a "live wire" with a body part and are stading on metal (or other conductor) in bare feet, they will be shcoked. (no fun).
2007-04-22 11:07:30 · answer #6 · answered by Tim E 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you were in deep space you'd light up like a beacon and attract clingons, which would be bad. Best to leave the vacuum cleaner at home. Anyway, do they have plug sockets in space?
2007-04-22 11:15:12 · answer #7 · answered by Agent Fox 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Up there ground is called shuttle.
So if you grabbed a hot wire and got shuttled you would let out a big yell.
2007-04-22 14:53:25 · answer #8 · answered by Billy Butthead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably make a mess in my space suit.Phew.
2007-04-22 11:03:32 · answer #9 · answered by taxed till i die,and then some. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
'tkquestion' had the correct answer, but you should know it's
'no earth to ground you' not ' 'no ground to earth you'.
2007-04-22 11:12:33 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋