Accidental Electrocution !

[Hal.]

As a kid I was electrocuted by being in contact with approximately 400 volts ( alternating ) at a street light . I don't know how long this was for as my perception of time became distorted . Possibly , it lasted less than 5 seconds . I don't recommend anybody intentionally makes contact with a voltage like this in this way .

 

Funny as it might sound , does anybody have any idea of how much energy I dissipated ?

Edited April 9, 2011 by hal_2011

[insane_alien]

not without knowing your resistance and the duration.

[Hal.]

Note : The wiki makes a distinction between Electric Shock and Electrocution . Death caused by an Electric Shock is called Electrocution . So , I must have had an Electric Shock as I'm still alive .

 

Also , according to the folks over at the wiki there is quite a large variation in Resistance of humans due to factors such as the path of the current through the body , physical size and so forth . There is probably such a large possible error multiple in a calculation that any meaning taken may just be as good as a guess .

[Janus]

Note : The wiki makes a distinction between Electric Shock and Electrocution . Death caused by an Electric Shock is called Electrocution . So , I must have had an Electric Shock as I'm still alive .

 

Also , according to the folks over at the wiki there is quite a large variation in Resistance of humans due to factors such as the path of the current through the body , physical size and so forth . There is probably such a large possible error multiple in a calculation that any meaning taken may just be as good as a guess .

 

We can least estimate the maximum energy you dissipated. It takes about 0.06 A to be lethal. Since you weren't killed, we can assume that you passed less than this through your body.

 

400 V x 0.06 A = 24 W

 

A Joule is a watt-second, so if you were being shocked for 5 sec, the maximum energy you dissipated was ~120 Joules. or about the energy it takes to lift a 1 kg weight 2.45 meters.

 

Your body resistance would have had to be ~6667 ohms.

 

If we instead, use the high end value of 100,000 ohms, then the current drops to 0.004 A and the Joules disapated to 8 Joules.

[Hal.]

Janus , When electronics is being studied a person must imagine the electronic component in a textbook question and what is happening to it .

Will the component heat up too much ? , what is the weak point ? , will it rupture ?

 

When that electronic component is a person in an electric circuit some of the questions are ,

Can I apply enough force to stop my hand muscles from clasping this object ? , Why is everything gone quiet ? and Why are people moving really slowly ?

 

Did you ever go into a swimming pool and under water you can still hear things but it is at a low level ? Well , then you exit the water and the sound increases . That is what it was like the instant that I let go .

 

I always try to imagine a number of joules of energy in terms of how long it can keep a 100 Watt bulb on .

 

So the work done during this electric shock could be the equivalent of lifting a 1Kg mass through a height of 2.45 metres . Thanks!

Edited April 10, 2011 by hal_2011

[HerpaDerp]

We can least estimate the maximum energy you dissipated. It takes about 0.06 A to be lethal. Since you weren't killed, we can assume that you passed less than this through your body.

 

400 V x 0.06 A = 24 W

 

A Joule is a watt-second, so if you were being shocked for 5 sec, the maximum energy you dissipated was ~120 Joules. or about the energy it takes to lift a 1 kg weight 2.45 meters.

 

Your body resistance would have had to be ~6667 ohms.

 

If we instead, use the high end value of 100,000 ohms, then the current drops to 0.004 A and the Joules disapated to 8 Joules.

 

I was under the impression that it took about 20mA to send your heart into ventricular fibrillation, but that is only if it goes through your heart. At 400V, if it went through your heart you'd probably be dead. There is no way of knowing which path it took so there is no way of knowing the resistance and therefore the energy dissapated.

 

People can survive electric shocks with the most horrific burns (lots of energy), so theres no way to answer this question.