A current of 0.001 A can be felt by the human body. 0.005 A can produce a pain response. 0.015 A can cause a loss of muscle cont

Question

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A current of 0.001 A can be felt by the human body. 0.005 A can produce a pain response. 0.015 A can cause a loss of muscle cont

rol. In the procedures of this lesson, over 0.030 A of current traveled in the three-battery circuit. Why was this circuit safe to handle with dry hands? Include the resistance of human skin in your answer.

Physics

1 answer:

Softa [2K] · Answer 1 · 2026-03-13T12:29:18+03:00

Response:

Overall, it's safe to manage this voltage with dry hands since the current flow through the body is below the sensitivity threshold.

Clarification:

The current in your body is defined by Ohm's law

V = I R

where I represents current, V signifies voltage, and R is resistance

In this scenario, three batteries in series produce a total voltage of V = 4.5 V, while the typical resistance of dry skin is R = 1,000,000 Ohms and wet skin has R = 100,000 Ohms

Now, let’s calculate the current flow

I = V / R

I = 4.5 / 1,000,000

I = 4.5 × 10⁻⁶ A

This is the current with dry hands, indicating it's much lower than the threshold that would trigger a painful sensation in the body.

For wet skin

I = 4.5 / 100,000

I = 4.5 × 10⁻⁵ A

This value is small but approaches the pain threshold, indicating slight discomfort.

In summary, it is safe to handle this voltage with dry hands since the current value through the body is less than its perceived sensitivity.