• Question: Why does getting an electric shock hurt the stronger it is?

    Asked by dynamitefire to Carol, Ellie, John, Philip, Rebecca on 24 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: John Welford

      John Welford answered on 24 Jun 2012:

      When talking about electricity there are two variables to consider, voltage and current. If a circuit is made through the body then current will flow and you will get an electric shock. The skin has a fixed electrical resistance so higher voltage means a higher current.

      What happens when current flows in the body is really a biology question, so someone else might have a better idea than me. My basic understanding is that the body uses electrical currents to communicate between nerves, muscles and the brain. Introducing extra electrical currents can make your muscles contract and your nerves register the signals as pain. The more current – the more pain.

      High currents can heat up the skin and cause burning. Currents through specific parts of the body can cause different effects, particularly the heart which relies on electrical stimulation to keep beating! This is how doctors can sometimes restart a patients heart using a defibrillator, but also how it it possible to die from an electric shock.

    • Photo: Carol White

      Carol White answered on 27 Jun 2012:

      It’s the current of the electric shock that determines how much it affects the body:

      At a current of 1 mA (milliamperes) you’d get a tingling sensation (still not a good idea to test!).
      Once you’re up to around 10 mA it’s very painful and you would lose control of your muscles, so it’s often called the “freezing current”.
      Getting even higher at 100mA you’d experience extreme pain and could easily die.
      At an extreme 2000mA – death is the only option.

      Don’t try any of this at home!

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