AC current & how electocution happens

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the mechanisms of electrocution in the context of alternating current (AC) electricity, exploring how AC affects the human body, particularly the heart. Participants examine the nature of electric fields and the movement of charges in relation to electrocution risks.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that when a person touches a hot wire while grounded, it completes the circuit, leading to harmful effects due to the movement of charge back and forth in the body.
  • Another participant argues that the primary issue with AC electricity is the changing electric field, which can cause the heart to attempt to beat at the frequency of the AC current.
  • A question is raised about how the electric field influences the heart's rhythm, with a request for clarification on the relationship between the electric field and the movement of charges.
  • A response clarifies that while the electric field causes movement of electrons and ions, this movement is limited in distance and speed, and that the heart's normal beating is regulated by chemical processes that can be disrupted by external electric fields.
  • A later comment warns about the dangers of high-current direct current (DC) as well, indicating that electrocution risks are not limited to AC scenarios.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the mechanisms of electrocution, particularly regarding the role of moving charges versus electric fields. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives on how AC affects the body.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the assumptions about the nature of electric fields and their effects on biological systems, as well as the specifics of how AC and DC currents interact with the human body.

willouj
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Am I understanding this correctly?

If a person is touching the hot wire in their house (AC) and they are grounded ... this completes the circuit. In AC electrons move back and forth a few centimeters, 60 times each second (60Hz). Therefore, if electocution happens, it is a lot of charge moving back and forth in the persons body that can harm them ... not a lot of charge traveling from the wall socket through a person and into the ground right? The ground just provides the possibility for the charge to move back and forth?
 
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Moving charges don't matter
With AC electricity the problem is that the changing electric field causes your heart to try and beat 60 times a second.
 
How does the electric field make the heart want to beat 60 times per second? Doesn't the changing electric field cause charges to move back and forth 60 times per second?

Thanks
Josh
 
The electric field causes electrons (and ions to move) but only a very small distance and only very slowly.
An electric field is what makes your heart beat but the field is normally generated by chemical differences (chemical reactions and ion channels and sodium ions etc) an external electric field causes the ions to move and signal your heart to beat.
 
Good response, Mgb. It should be pointed out though, that messing about with high-current DC isn't a great idea either. I would not want to be, for instance, the only conductive path between a vehicle and the negative battery terminal when someone is trying to start it.
 

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