When is it safe for electric current to pass through the body, and when is it dangerous?
I don’t mean quantity of voltage; I mean that is it dangerous if I were to hang from a live wire (aka not grounded), or if I am grounded is that dangerous? Is it possible to have electric current flowing through the body safely, then instantly die because you touch a ground/stop touching a ground?
In: Physics
Necessary Disclaimer: electricity is dangerous and can kill or seriously injure you. Do *not* play with energized electrical elements or work with them unless you are properly qualified to do so.
>When is it safe for electric current to pass through the body, and when is it dangerous?
Essentially, it is always dangerous, unless it is such a small amount of current that it can’t do much damage, or unless it is applied very specifically.
>I mean that is it dangerous if I were to hang from a live wire (aka not grounded)
Theoretically, in this situation there wouldn’t be any current flowing through you (or very little current). Electrical current needs a path from high voltage to low voltage, it doesn’t just circulate around inside you.
>or if I am grounded is that dangerous?
Yes, if you are grounded and touching a live wire, then the current probably has an attractive path from high voltage (the live wire) to low voltage (the ground), and it will travel through you to get there.
>Is it possible to have electric current flowing through the body safely, then instantly die because you touch a ground/stop touching a ground?
Not in the way you’re talking about, no. Like I said, current doesn’t just slosh around inside you, it follows paths from high voltage to low voltage, if you’re not part of that path, it won’t flow through you. (This is oversimplified, but you get the idea)
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