Why is it safe to touch the electricity-outputting end of our phone and computer chargers with no sort of electric shock on us as opposed to other dangerous electrical outputs?

Question

Exactly as stated in the title. All my life I’ve been able to touch my phone or computer’s electrical charger output (accidentally or for whatever the reason) with no sort of “buzz” or feeling from the electricity going through the output. At least that has always been my experience with it.

Just in case: Don’t intentionally try this of course.

In: 64

Answer 1

Voltage isn’t high enough to push enough current to shock you or make a significant spark. Think of voltage as the pressure that pushes the current, as water pressure pushes water in a hose. Too low pressure (voltage) can’t push enough (water) current to be noticeable to you.

Additionally, your skin has fairly large “resistance” to the flow of electricity, similar to how a very narrow hose has more resistance to water flow that a firehose. Dry skin has very high resistance to electrical flow.

And that relationship between voltage, current, and resistance is called [Ohm’s Law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohm%27s_law).