The negative terminal of a battery contains a surplus of electrons, resulting in a negative charge. However, when a human body or Earth, which are neutral, is touched, only a minimal amount of charge transfers until equilibrium is reached, halting further flow. This phenomenon can be likened to water attempting to flow into a blocked drain. To discharge a battery effectively, a circuit must be created by connecting a conductor to both terminals, allowing for significant current flow.
PREREQUISITESStudents of physics, electronics enthusiasts, and anyone interested in understanding battery behavior and electrical charge flow.
They do. But only a very small amount of charge moves into the body before it reaches the same potential as the battery terminal and then the flow stops. It's like trying to pour water into a stopped-up drainpipe - only so much will go down the drain before the flow stops.wphays said:then why do the surplus electrons from the negative terminal of the battery not discharge to the human body or Earth (which have a neutral charge) when touched?
Thank youNugatory said:They do. But only a very small amount of charge moves into the body before it reaches the same potential as the battery terminal and then the flow stops. It's like trying to pour water into a stopped-up drainpipe - only so much will go down the drain before the flow stops.
If we create a circuit by touching a conductor to both terminals of the battery, we will get a current flow that will discharge the battery fairly quickly.
If you are not familiar with the concepts of potential and capacitance, you'll want to learn about them. They are far more useful for understanding current flows than thinking in terms of electrons moving around.