As the titel implies! How many square feet gets electrified if a power current touches the surface of water? Does it expand the more current that flows true it? Are you safe at 3 meters or at one meter? Can someone please clarify this. Thanks!
In: Planetary Science
The ELI5 version is “depends on the current introduced, the size of the body of water, and several other contributing factors. Generally speaking, the higher the current/smaller the body of water, more of it will be unsafe for human entry.”
If you want a much more in depth look, here’s what I got from ChatGPT:
The area affected by electrical current in a body of water can be estimated using principles from electrostatics and hydrodynamics. However, the exact formula depends on several factors, including the type of current (AC or DC), the conductivity of the water, and the specifics of the current source.
For a simplified model, assuming a point source of direct current (DC) and considering the water as a homogeneous medium with constant conductivity, you can use the following approach:
1. **Current Distribution**: In water, the current density ( J ) typically decreases with distance from the source. For DC, the current density ( J ) at a distance ( r ) from a point source can be approximated by:
[
J(r) approx frac{I}{2 pi r sigma}
]
where ( I ) is the current, and ( sigma ) is the electrical conductivity of the water.
2. **Electric Field**: The electric field ( E ) at a distance ( r ) from the point source can be given by:
[
E(r) = frac{I}{2 pi epsilon_0 sigma r}
]
where ( epsilon_0 ) is the permittivity of free space.
3. **Affected Area**: To estimate the affected area, you need to define a threshold for the current density or electric field strength. For instance, if you want to find the area where the current density exceeds a certain threshold ( J_0 ), you can solve for ( r ):
[
r = frac{I}{2 pi J_0 sigma}
]
4. **Area Calculation**: The affected area ( A ) around the point source can be approximated as a circle with radius ( r ):
[
A = pi r^2
]
where ( r ) is derived from the threshold condition above.
This approach provides a simplified estimate. In practice, factors like water movement, variations in conductivity, and the configuration of the current source can influence the actual affected area. For a more accurate analysis, numerical simulations or empirical measurements may be required.
But still, does it move as the water moves? Does it stay static? Does the size matters if it’s salt or fresh water. So many questions. Forgive me, I’m high as fuck.
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