How tasers that have 50,000V only produce a very low amperage

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Tasers operate at high voltage (50,000V) but produce low amperage, which is crucial for safety as high voltage alone does not guarantee lethality. The discharge from a taser creates a circuit through the body, but the current is limited due to the low energy capacity of the capacitor, which leads to a rapid voltage drop when current increases. Ohm's Law does not apply linearly in this scenario because the voltage is not constant; it decreases significantly as current rises. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding energy dynamics and the limitations of voltage in relation to human resistance. Misconceptions about the effects of static electricity and taser operation are common, highlighting the need for better education on electrical safety.
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I don't understand how these tasers that have 50,000V only produce a very low amperage. According to Ohm's law that should kill you. Voltage divided by the persons resistance (Ohms).
Getting shocked by static electricity has 5000V, but doesn't kill you because there is no circuit involved, just the transfer of electrons to your finger, or whatever touched the metal. I understand that.
But when you get zapped by a taser isn't this capacitor discharging through your body, thus creating a circuit?
 
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The voltage is stepped up through transformers. Remember you can't get something for nothing so the power output always stays the same. When the transformers increase the voltage, the current drops...thus conservation of energy wins again! And remember the circuit is only through a small portion of the skin between the two metal pins. But the voltage jolt still hits your system enough to stun you.
 
I=V/R .. only if VI <Pmax

You can't use the OHM's LAW relationship with 2 knowns to find one unknown with Tazers and similar phenomena because the VOLTAGE is not constant. The Voltage drops like a rock once current goes up. So it's not a linear relationship. A powersupply operating within it's current limits obeys a LINEAR ohm's law.. upto that limit

For example, a 1pF cap charged to 100V (if possible)... only has a small amount of energy in it.. thus it can't sustain that 100V when current goes up. The voltage will drop like a rock. It's all about energy... if the energy demand (an assumed constant V mulitiplied by the I) is within the maximum Power limit, then u can assume a constant V.

I'm making a big deal about this because I've had so many people ask me questions like this. I remember a group of people at work who were saying "The people over at the ESD department are stupid, there is no way a human body can charge to thousands of volts." OR "ISn't is cheaper to amplify with transformers instead of amplifiers circuits?"
 
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