2007-12-17 06:18:55 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrocute
2007-12-17 06:41:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
when talking about people, the higher voltage is more dangerous. Here is why: when looking at direct current, the human body is basically a resistor. It takes something like 200mA of current to disrupt the heart. So it takes a high voltage to generate that current inside your body (I=V/R). AC is worse than DC because now your body is not just a resistor, it has reactance. Certain frequencies (ie 60Hz) are more dangerous than others because of the reactance of the body. Your car battery wont hurt you, in fact you wont even feel it. But a 144V battery will give you a little tingle (I've done this before). the 120V outlet will give you a jolt!
2007-12-17 14:42:01 · answer #2 · answered by boundlycra 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yea, if you drop it on your foot. You are comparing apples to oranges my friend. 100 Milli-amps could kill and 50K volts coming off your finger looks cool but won't kill you. There are so many different factors involved. Where is ground? Does the current flow thru your heart? Does it throw you or lock you up?
As far as a danger from electrocution, the 120v outlet is more dangerous.
2007-12-17 14:46:10 · answer #3 · answered by Lou 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I love the one about dropping it on your foot. And that is correct. The 2 volts and 12 volts are not enough voltage to push the current through the resistance of your skin. So no matter what the potential amps are, they will not travel through your body. But the 120 volts and 500 volts is more than enough to overcome the resistance and push the current through your body. How much current depends on the resistance. One tenth of an amp is enough to kill you graveyard dead if it has enough time. Check out this excellent link to have it explained better.
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_1/chpt_3/4.html
2007-12-18 20:49:27 · answer #4 · answered by John himself 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Either one is enough to stop your heart in the right circumstances. I've "tested" both and managed to survive, although I wouldn't want to make a hobby out of it. I think the AC and DC part have a lot to do with it too. the 120 AC is definitely a bigger jolt, but a spark plug wire will grab right hold of you.
2007-12-17 14:37:40 · answer #5 · answered by thegubmint 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋