• Question: What is the most common way of getting electric shocks?

    Asked by dynamitefire to Carol, Ellie, John, Philip, Rebecca on 23 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: John Welford

      John Welford answered on 23 Jun 2012:

      I expect the most common way is from static electricity. Static charge can build up on you from different materials rubbing together, then when you touch something that’s earthed you’ll get a small electric shock. This probably happens all the time but just so small that you don’t notice.

      You might have noticed this when walking on carpet and then touching a railing? Or when getting out of a car?

    • Photo: Rebecca Lacey

      Rebecca Lacey answered on 25 Jun 2012:

      Static shocks are the most common form of electrical shocks and often do not cause any lasting harm as the voltage is often very low and the current produced only flows for a very short amount of time. However it has been known for static to produce up to 10,000 volts (anything above 50 volts can cause signals between the brain and your muscles to be interrupted)!

    • Photo: Carol White

      Carol White answered on 27 Jun 2012:

      It’s definitely static shocks!

      I’m the kind of person who gets an electrical shock whenever I touch a car door – it’s really really annoying!

      I looked up why (because your question made me want to know!):
      – some people are more sensitive to shocks.
      – some people “store” more static electricity. Apparently this is related the size of your body, feet, and the how thick the soles of your shoes are! If you have a bigger body, feet, and thinner shoe soles, you’ll have more electric shocks.
      – some people generate more charge, which would be the material of soles, the way they walk or the clothes they wear.

      I think I must have big feet and bad shoes, oops!

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