Umair Gaines
Electricity is an essential part of modern life, but it can also be dangerous. While voltage and current are both important factors in electrical safety, amperage is often cited as the most critical consideration when it comes to the danger of electric shock. The human body's resistance to electricity varies depending on the path of the current, and even low-voltage currents can be deadly under certain conditions. Understanding the risks associated with electricity is crucial to ensure safe handling and prevent accidents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Lethal Voltage | There is no set voltage level that dictates the "lethality" of a voltage. However, voltage levels above 50 volts are considered lethal or potentially dangerous under certain conditions. Voltages above 2700 volts or 11,000 volts are considered a lethal dose of electrical current. |
| Factors Affecting Lethality | The path of the current, duration of exposure, amperage, and body resistance are factors that determine the lethality of an electric shock. |
| Minimum Voltage for Death | Humans have died at as low as 42 volts. |
| Current vs. Voltage | The amperage or current is considered more dangerous than voltage in electrical shocks. |
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What You'll Learn
Factors determining voltage danger
While voltage is a factor in the severity of an electric shock, it is not the voltage that kills, but the current. The voltage available in a circuit is what motivates the current to flow through a victim. The higher the voltage, the more power is drawn, but it is the amperage that determines the lethality of an electric shock.
Body Resistance
Body resistance is a crucial factor in the danger of an electric shock. The human body's resistance to electricity varies from person to person and over time. Factors such as body fat percentage and body hydration impact the body's electrical resistance. The path of electricity through the body also matters. If electricity passes through sensitive organs like the heart or brain, it can result in immediate death or severe organ failure. The contact area with an electrical source also matters; two hands holding an electrical source will have twice the bodily contact area as one hand, providing two parallel routes for the current to flow through the body.
Amperage
Amperage, or the amount of electricity travelling through an electrical system, is the greatest determinant of danger in electric shocks. Tiny changes in amperage can mean the difference between life and death. A current of 0.1 ampere for 2 seconds can be fatal. A current of 1-5 mA may result in a slight shock, 6-30 mA can lead to a significant loss of muscle control, and 50-150 mA can result in respiratory arrest, severe muscle reactions, and death.
Duration
The duration of exposure to electricity is another factor in the danger of electric shocks. A slight touch may result in a minor shock, while a continuous duration of low voltage may have drastic effects. The longer an individual is exposed to electricity, the greater the likelihood of death.
Voltage
While amperage is the greatest factor in the lethality of electric shocks, voltage still plays a role. Voltages above 50 are considered lethal or potentially dangerous, especially if the current passes through the fingers, directly to the head, or affects sensitive internal organs. Voltages above 2700V or 11,000V are considered a lethal dose of electrical current, causing severe damage to the human body.
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Current is the killer, not voltage
While high-voltage signs and warnings are often used to denote danger, it is important to understand that it is the electrical current, not the voltage, that is the real killer.
Voltage is a measure of the potential difference in charge between two points—the higher the voltage, the greater the potential for current to flow. However, it is the current itself that is dangerous, as it passes through and affects the body. The human body's resistance to current varies depending on the path it takes, with the internal resistance between the ears being only 100 ohms, and around 500 ohms from finger to toe. Thus, the amount of current that can pass through the body and cause harm depends on the voltage and the body's resistance.
The duration of exposure to electricity is also a critical factor. A brief touch of a wire carrying a high voltage may result in a minor shock, while a continuous exposure to a seemingly low voltage can have severe and even fatal consequences.
The amperage, or the amount of current, is what poses the greatest danger. Different amounts of amperage have different effects on the human body. For example, a current of 0.1 ampere for just 2 seconds can be fatal.
While voltage is a factor in determining the danger, it is not the voltage itself that kills. It is similar to being hit by a rock; the rock is the cause of injury or death, but it was thrown by someone. The voltage is like the person throwing the rock, providing the energy for the current to pass through the body and cause harm. Therefore, it is crucial to understand that it is the current, not the voltage, that is the true killer.
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Body resistance and amperage
It is important to understand that it is not the voltage that kills humans, but the current forced through the body. The voltage-current relationship is described by Ohm's law, which states that the current drawn is proportional to the voltage and inversely proportional to the resistance: Current = Voltage/Resistance.
The human body's resistance is not a constant value. It can vary from person to person and even for the same person at different times of the day. The resistance of human skin can vary from 1000 ohms to 100,000 ohms depending on various factors. Dry, calloused skin may have a higher resistance of over 100,000 ohms, while moist or sweaty skin will have a much lower resistance. The salt content of the skin surface, or the amount of sweat present, can affect body resistance. Additionally, the internal resistance between the ears is only about 100 ohms, while it is around 500 ohms when measured from finger to toe.
When the body is exposed to high voltage, the skin can break down quickly, reducing the body's overall resistance. Above 500 volts, the skin's integrity can be compromised, exposing the internal tissues, which have lower resistance than the skin. This results in a larger current flow through the body, leading to more severe tissue, muscle, and nerve damage.
Therefore, the danger of electric shock lies in the amperage rather than the voltage. A current of 0.1 amperes for just 2 seconds can be fatal. Different amperages affect the human body in different ways. For example, a very small current may only produce a light tingling sensation, while a stronger current can cause painful muscle spasms, dislocated joints, or broken bones.
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High voltage and electric arcs
While the voltage is an important factor when it comes to electric shocks, it is not the voltage that kills but the current that it forces through the body. The human body's resistance to current varies depending on the path of the current, with the internal resistance between the ears being only 100 ohms, and around 500 ohms when measured from finger to toe. This means that a current of less than 50 volts passing through the fingers or directly to the head can be deadly.
Electric arcs are electrical breakdowns of gas that produce a prolonged electrical discharge, resulting in a very high temperature capable of melting or vaporizing most materials. They occur in the gas-filled space between two conductive electrodes and can be initiated by two electrodes initially in contact and then drawn apart, or by momentarily touching the electrodes and then separating them. Electric arcs can be used in many applications such as lighting, movie projectors, and electrical propulsion of spacecraft.
To create an electric arc, high voltage is required to initiate the breakdown of air. The breakdown voltage of air varies with humidity and other factors, but it can be estimated as 1 kV per mm or 3 million volts per meter. Once the arc is formed, the gasses in the air turn into a plasma that conducts electricity much better than regular air, so it takes much less voltage to sustain the arc.
To prevent uncontrolled electrical arcs in apparatuses, arc suppression techniques can be used to reduce the duration or likelihood of arc formation. This is important because uncontrolled arcs can be destructive since they draw more and more current.
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Low voltage can be deadly
While it is often assumed that low voltage electricity is safe, this is a myth. Low voltage electricity can be deadly, causing serious harm and even death.
The danger lies not in the voltage, but in the current that the voltage pushes through the body. The human body's resistance to electricity varies depending on the path the current takes. The internal resistance between the ears is only 100 ohms, while it is around 500 ohms when measured from finger to toe. A current of 0.1 ampere for a mere 2 seconds can be fatal.
Low voltage electricity can cause electrocution and fatal injuries, even without visible signs of external injury. It can lead to cardiac or respiratory arrest, arrhythmias, seizures, or paralysis. The shock from a low voltage charge transmits through body tissues with low electrical resistance, such as the brain, heart, internal organs, blood vessels, and the central nervous system.
Additionally, low voltage electricity can cause burns, which may be internal and not visible externally. These burns can occur on the skin or internally, causing serious harm and even sudden cardiac arrest. Even voltages lower than 30 can be dangerous if they induce an unpleasant sensation, causing the victim to jerk back and accidentally come into contact with something more dangerous nearby.
Therefore, it is crucial to understand that low voltage electricity can be just as deadly as high voltage electricity. The voltage itself is not the lethal factor, but rather the current it pushes through the body and the various factors affecting the body's resistance.
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Frequently asked questions
Voltage is the pressure from an electrical circuit that pushes charged particles along a conductor. It is also known as electrical potential difference.
There is no set voltage level that dictates the lethality of a voltage. It is not the voltage that is dangerous, but the current that the voltage pushes through the body. Humans have died at as low as 42 volts. Voltages above 2700V or 11,000V are considered a lethal dose of electrical current.
The amperage, or current, is the main factor that determines the danger of voltage. The duration of exposure, the path of the current, and the resistance of the body part affected are also important factors.
To protect yourself from dangerous voltages, always assume that any electrical item or current is dangerous. Do not touch exposed wires or electrical items with high voltages. Always follow safety guidelines and use proper personal protective equipment when working with electricity.
