4 ms·
That phrase is a lot like, "It's not the gun that kills you, it's the bullet". Yeah, technically true but it really is the volts that drive current through you.
by function_seven 11y ago
That phrase is a lot like, "It's not the gun that kills you, it's the bullet". Yeah, technically true but it really is the volts that drive current through you.
- jessaustin 11y agoIt's not the fall; it's the landing!
- dredmorbius 11y agoHigh voltage doesn't kill. It does provide the electromotive force to move current. Death by electricity is largely a function of the current that flows through the body, though in some cases the frequency also matters. Case of a researcher who was working with millivolt and/or milliamp currents (I forget the specifics) but at frequencies which disrupted his heart rythms. Was working alone late at night in the lab until he wasn't. Died from stopping his heart. A Van de Graaff generator will kick out 100,000 - 5,000,000 volts, but can be contacted directly. Holding a conductive rod (so that current flows through a large skin area on the hand) allows sparks to be discharged through the body without harm. It's a common science lab trick for children.