Is Electromagnetism Induced by Electrocution Related to Voltage?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter PrincePhoenix
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Electricity
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between voltage and electromagnetism in the context of electrocution, including questions about the effects of AC and DC currents on electromagnetic fields. Participants explore the implications of electrical currents on muscle contractions during electrocution and the conditions under which electromagnetism is induced.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that a person may be unable to remove themselves from a live wire due to muscle contractions caused by electric current.
  • One participant proposes that electromagnetism is proportional to the number of turns in an electromagnet and the current flowing through it, indicating a relationship between voltage and amperage under certain conditions.
  • There is a question about whether AC induces electromagnetism, with some participants affirming that it does, while others express uncertainty regarding specific conditions that may affect this.
  • One participant mentions that if AC is "parallelly combined," it may not create a magnetic field, leading to further discussion about the nature of AC signals as electromagnetic waves.
  • Another participant references Biot-Savart's Law in relation to the magnetic field produced by currents, suggesting that certain configurations could result in zero magnetic field strength.
  • There is a contention regarding the applicability of Biot-Savart's Law to time-dependent currents, with some participants arguing that it does not apply in this context.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between voltage and electromagnetism, particularly regarding the effects of AC and DC currents. The discussion remains unresolved, with multiple competing perspectives on the conditions under which electromagnetism is induced.

Contextual Notes

Some claims depend on specific definitions and assumptions about electrical configurations and the nature of currents. The discussion includes unresolved mathematical steps and varying interpretations of electromagnetic principles.

PrincePhoenix
Gold Member
Messages
116
Reaction score
2
1-When a person gets electrocuted by accident, why can't he remove himself from the wire?
2-Is there any relation between voltage and the strength of the electromagnetism induced? Not a mathematical relation. Just want to know does a high voltage result in a strong electromagnet?
3-Does AC induce electromagnetism?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
1. Electricity causes muscles to contract. If someone touches a live wire with the palm of his hand, the electricity may cause his hand muscles to contract causing him to grasp the wire and not let go. It is safer to test a wire with the back of your hand.

2. Electromagnetism is often expressed in terms of Amp-Turns. In other words electromgnetism is proportional to the number of turns in the electromagnet and the number of amps flowing through it. Amps are determined by the voltage divided by the impedance of the electromagnet. So yes, indirectly there is a relation between voltage and amperage. High voltage can result in a strong electromagnet only if the electromagnet has sufficiently low impedance and there is enough amperage available.

3. The meaning of this question is a little unclear to me. The short answer is yes and so does DC.
 
PrincePhoenix said:
1-When a person gets electrocuted by accident, why can't he remove himself from the wire?

Because he's dead (you don't survive electrocution, by definition.)
 
PrincePhoenix said:
3-Does AC induce electromagnetism?

it should ! But if it is Parallelly Combinated then it won't create magnetic field !
 
I_am_no1 said:
it should ! But if it is Parallelly Combinated then it won't create magnetic field !

I can't tell if you are being facetious here but any AC signal is an electromagnetic wave, hence they have both electric and magnetic fields.
 
Born2bwire said:
I can't tell if you are being facetious here.

I apologise for any kind of mistake ! :((
 
Thanks for the answers.
 
Born2bwire said:
I can't tell if you are being facetious here but any AC signal is an electromagnetic wave, hence they have both electric and magnetic fields.

actually bro i was trying to remind BIOT SAVART'S LAW there! [tex]\vec{B}[/tex] = Magnetic field
[tex]\vartheta[/tex] = l ^ B

[tex]dB\propto[/tex] [tex]sin\vartheta[/tex]
and when its parallel and direction is opposite to the flow of electricity (I) [tex]\vartheta[/tex] = 180
sin 180 = 0 so dB = 0
correct me bro if i am wrong As i missed the lecture!
 
All AC currents are propagated by electromagnetic waves, there will always be both electric and magnetic fields.

If what you are describing are two parallel wires with one being the return path then there still will be magnetic fields. The only way you could cancel out the fields would be if the wires are colocated in which the superposition of currents would be zero, the trivial case.

Biot-Savart is not applicable here since it is only valid for time-independent currents.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 42 ·
2
Replies
42
Views
4K
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
6K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K