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

It’s all about Ohm’s Law. Lower voltages (like 5V USB or even 12V car batteries) can’t ‘push’ much current – but higher voltages (like 120V power in the US or 240V in Europe) have more potential – the higher voltage can push more current through the same resistance (in this case your body) and you’re gonna feel it more. As an example take a 9V battery and put your finger across the terminals – you’re not gonna feel anything. Now touch that sucker to the end of your tongue – you’ll feel it! In this case the resistance of your wet tongue is far lower than that of your dry skin, so more current passes sufficient for your nerves to notice.