The apprentice with a question about the physics or characteristics of electricity

[steelersman]

maybe we should quit arguing and get beack to the topic. what are the circumstances that could cause contact with a 120v receptacle to be fatal? Anyone????????????????????????

perhaps your body being wet and having a lower than average resistance.

 

[roger]

maybe we should quit arguing and get beack to the topic.

Who's arguing?

what are the circumstances that could cause contact with a 120v receptacle to be fatal? Anyone????????????????????????

Hmmm, could possibly be someone working on a live receptacle don't you think?

If you are asking what the numbers would have be, click HERE

Roger

 

[charlie b]

What are the circumstances that could cause contact with a 120v receptacle to be fatal?

Ohm?s Law is all you need. Depending on a person?s physical state (e.g., age, gender, height, weight, percent body fat) and whether they are tired and sweaty at the time of the contact, their body resistance (taken from their hand, in contact with the receptacle, to their foot, in contact with the floor) could be as low as 250 ohms. Add another 50 ohms for the floor and the dirt that is in the path between the person?s foot and the building?s service ground rod, you get 300 ohms. Divide 120 volts by 300 ohms, and you get 0.4 amps. Looking at the link that Roger just provided, we see that that is definitely enough current to kill the person.

Q.E.D.