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> swim up against a stream of urination As per findings by the Mythbusters some number of years ago, the stream of pee is not unbroken. > The Mythbusters test

> swim up against a stream of urination As per findings by the Mythbusters some number of years ago, the stream of pee is not unbroken. > The Mythbusters tested the myth that you could be electrocuted by peeing on the 3rd rail. The myth was 'busted' as the stream would be broken up due to distance and there wouldn't be a continuous path for the electrical current to follow. https://science.slashdot.org/story/10/03/02/1536218/mythbusters-peeing-on-3rd-rail-busted https://science.slashdot.org/story/10/03/02/1536218/mythbust...

varjag 3y ago
Long time ago, I've seen a dog electrocuted while peeing at a sliding security gate motor.
capableweb 3y ago
You can definitely get a shock if you stand not miles away from a electric fence and pee at it. I've personally observed this, to much dismay. Not sure how peeing specifically on a "3rd rail" is relevant. The distance seems more relevant, as the further away your pee-droplets reach, the further away they'll move from each other. But stand close enough and the stream will be unbroken.
- boredumb 3y ago
  "3rd rail" probably because it's a half joke/half warning about the subways in NYC being electrified on the 3rd rail and not to be a jerk and piss in public.
- codetrotter 3y ago
  Yes, distance is important of course. The distance they tested is still pretty close. Only when the test dummy was abnormally near was the circuit closed. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3pidli https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3pidli So therefore, in normal circumstances you should be safe from nanobots swimming up your pee hole.
- cmeacham98 3y ago
  > specifically on a "3rd rail" is relevant "Third rail" means the rail that is electrified (it is often literally the third rail as well): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_rail https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_rail
- giardini 3y ago
  Yeah, but it's a lot funnier to stand "miles away from an electric fence and pee at it" since it establishes masculine dominance and indicates an incredible level of skill, not to mention unbelievable "pee pressure". Definitely Paul Bunyan-esque! Why do I get the impression we have a lot of non-native English posters here today?!
mschuster91 3y ago
Against an ordinary 3rd rail, yes - these tend to be below 1500V DC per Wikipedia [1] and the German systems I know of all are at 750V nominal voltage, with only Hamburg's S-Bahn operating at 1200V. Against an overhead line, say if you're urinating from a bridge? That's 15-25 kV if it's rail. I would not dare risk my chances there - and most bridges I know have "piss shields" or generally raised walls to prevent people from trying. [1] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stromschiene#Nennspannungen_bei_Bahnen_mit_Stromschiene https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stromschiene#Nennspannungen_be...
- actionfromafar 3y ago
  Less than a handful of years ago some kid died doing that around here.
- codetrotter 3y ago
  Not suggesting anyone try peeing on anything that has current flowing through it :P Was just bringing it up because the stream would need to be unbroken in order for the nanobots to swim up it.

varjag 3y ago

Long time ago, I've seen a dog electrocuted while peeing at a sliding security gate motor.

capableweb 3y ago

You can definitely get a shock if you stand not miles away from a electric fence and pee at it. I've personally observed this, to much dismay. Not sure how peeing specifically on a "3rd rail" is relevant. The distance seems more relevant, as the further away your pee-droplets reach, the further away they'll move from each other. But stand close enough and the stream will be unbroken.

boredumb 3y ago
"3rd rail" probably because it's a half joke/half warning about the subways in NYC being electrified on the 3rd rail and not to be a jerk and piss in public.
codetrotter 3y ago
Yes, distance is important of course. The distance they tested is still pretty close. Only when the test dummy was abnormally near was the circuit closed. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3pidli https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3pidli So therefore, in normal circumstances you should be safe from nanobots swimming up your pee hole.
cmeacham98 3y ago
> specifically on a "3rd rail" is relevant "Third rail" means the rail that is electrified (it is often literally the third rail as well): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_rail https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_rail
giardini 3y ago
Yeah, but it's a lot funnier to stand "miles away from an electric fence and pee at it" since it establishes masculine dominance and indicates an incredible level of skill, not to mention unbelievable "pee pressure". Definitely Paul Bunyan-esque! Why do I get the impression we have a lot of non-native English posters here today?!

mschuster91 3y ago

Against an ordinary 3rd rail, yes - these tend to be below 1500V DC per Wikipedia [1] and the German systems I know of all are at 750V nominal voltage, with only Hamburg's S-Bahn operating at 1200V. Against an overhead line, say if you're urinating from a bridge? That's 15-25 kV if it's rail. I would not dare risk my chances there - and most bridges I know have "piss shields" or generally raised walls to prevent people from trying. [1] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stromschiene#Nennspannungen_bei_Bahnen_mit_Stromschiene https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stromschiene#Nennspannungen_be...

actionfromafar 3y ago
Less than a handful of years ago some kid died doing that around here.
codetrotter 3y ago
Not suggesting anyone try peeing on anything that has current flowing through it :P Was just bringing it up because the stream would need to be unbroken in order for the nanobots to swim up it.