[Gllug] Monitors and shocks

[Tim Gray]

> Apparently why electricity is so dangerous is that it takes 
> the most direct route

It take the route of least resistance. Try to imagine pouring  jug of
water on a draining board or some other slightly inclined surface. Most
of the water will form a stream but some rivulets will spring up.

Usually what happens is that the flow of electricity goes via your
nervous system or though your muscles - they both contain (relatively)
high concentrations of various ions. Most of the damage occurs either
thermally (you get cooked) or ionicly (the current creates lots of free
radical ions which merrily react with pretty much everything they touch)


T.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: gllug-admin at linux.co.uk 
> [mailto:gllug-admin at linux.co.uk] On Behalf Of Allen Baranov
> Sent: Friday, May 16, 2003 4:02 PM
> To: gllug at linux.co.uk; Chris Bell
> Subject: Re: [Gllug] Monitors and shocks
> 
> 
> Hi,
> 
> >    Another problem is that you do not always know what your muscles 
> > will do when the contact is accidental.
> 
> And the path that the electricity takes... If your hand 
> contracts for 3 
> minutes you may lose your hand, however, if you heart 
> contracts for 3 minutes 
> you could just lose your life. 
> 
> Apparently why electricity is so dangerous is that it takes 
> the most direct 
> route which, if you are holding one side with your left hand 
> and the other 
> with the right, is straight through your chest. 
> 
> Safest is probably to use one hand and one foot. 
> 
> Allen Baranov




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