Will this man get an electric shock

[Frenemy90210]

If a properly insulated man touches with one hand +ve terminal of a 120 V battery and with another hand -ve terminal of (Edit: an another) 120V battery (two batteries are totally isolated, not connected in any way) then will he get electrical shock ? ( I am guessing , not). But if -ve terminals of both batterys are properly grounded, say a mile apart, will he get shocked ?What if +ve instead of -ve terminals are grounded, what will happen ?

Edit: Man is not grounded and well insulated.

 

[rbelli1]

If a properly insulated man touches with one hand +ve terminal of a 120 V battery and with another hand -ve terminal of 120V battery (two batteries are totally isolated, not connected in any way) then will he get electrical shock ?

No. No circuit means no current.

But if -ve terminals of both batterys are properly grounded, say a mile apart, will he get shocked ?

This presents essentially the same shock hazard as a single grounded battery. Is the man grounded in any way? If so then yes. If not then no. I would suggest against trying this yourself.

The distance between the ground is going to have little effect as long as the ground is "proper".

What if +ve instead of -ve terminals are grounded, what will happen ?

This is the same as the previous situation. The direction of current though the body has no bearing on its hazard.

BoB

 

[anorlunda]

If a properly insulated man touches with one hand +ve terminal of a 120 V battery and with another hand -ve terminal of (Edit: an another) 120V battery (two batteries are totally isolated, not connected in any way) then will he get electrical shock ? ( I am guessing , not). But if -ve terminals of both batterys are properly grounded, say a mile apart, will he get shocked ?What if +ve instead of -ve terminals are grounded, what will happen ?

Edit: Man is not grounded and well insulated.

Stop thinking of voltages as abosolute. The absolute voltage of your 120V battery could be called 120000V or -1200V. The choice of zero volts is arbitrary.

 

[jim hardy]

Stop thinking of voltages as abosolute. The absolute voltage of your 120V battery could be called 120000V or -1200V. The choice of zero volts is arbitrary.

Encore !

@Frenemy90210

see if this thread helps you with concept of "voltage"
https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...fference-vs-voltage-drop.741405/#post-5331150
mull over post 15

old jim

 

[tech99]

Incidentally, I used 120 volt batteries for my home made radio equipment when I was a boy and did not receive shocks from that voltage unless really trying and making very good contact.
On the other hand, John Logie Baird, when working on television development, was given a thousand volts-worth of batteries, which, imagining them to be safe, he touched, and received a horrendous shock that nearly killed him.

 

[CWatters]

In theory the two batteries are isolated so he should be ok as long as there isn't much capacitance around.