B Why is a wire necessary for tasers to deliver an electrical shock to the target?

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A wire is necessary for tasers to deliver electrical shocks because it allows for a controlled flow of current between the device and the target. Without a wire, the required electric field to ionize air would need to be extraordinarily strong, making it impractical for handheld devices. Generating such a strong electric field could lead to uncontrolled and lethal currents, defeating the purpose of tasers as less-lethal weapons. Additionally, a taser requires a closed circuit to function properly, meaning both a positive and negative connection are needed for the current to return. Overall, the wire is essential for safety, control, and effective operation of tasers.
Tio Barnabe
Why does a wire is needed for carrying the electrical current down the target in tasers?

Perhaps without the wire the elecrical current needs to be much more strong?

Why don't construct some kind of wireless taser that uses ultra-super-strong-electromagnetic pulse (which would make it as efficient as a conventional taser)?
 
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Tio Barnabe said:
Why does a wire is needed for carrying out the electrical current down the target in tasers?

Why is a wire needed to carry current in your house? Or anywhere?
 
Vanadium 50 said:
Why is a wire needed to carry current in your house? Or anywhere?
Because (in the case you mentioned) electric current consists of so called free electrons that make up the wire.

I wanted to ask if there is a way of constructing a taser so strong that the electrons are pulled into the air on their way to the target, i.e. a lightning like taser.
 
I;m sorry, I thought you wanted to learn about how real circuits work. Carry on.
 
In order to efficiently conduct an electrical current, the air would need to be ionized. In order to ionize the air, a VERY strong electric field is needed. Generating such a strong electric field over several feet is very difficult to do with a hand-held, battery operated device. In addition, this field would create ionization paths in randomly generated directions, much like how lightning is formed. This ionized path of plasma would easily conduct current, but the current would need to be high enough to keep the ionization path intact for the duration of the shock. The amount of current would be far more lethal than current tasers are. It would be impossible to control, almost impossible to generate, and entirely useless as a less-lethal device.
 
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Not to mention a hazard to the taser operator !
 
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Tio Barnabe said:
Why does a wire is needed for carrying the electrical current down the target in tasers?
You do realize that it takes two wires, right? The current does not return through the ground, the operators shoes and his unwitting body.
 
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jbriggs444 said:
You do realize that it takes two wires, right? The current does not return through the ground, the operators shoes and his unwitting body.
Oh, yes. It should be a closed circuit taser-target-taser.
 
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