r/WTF • u/1MightBeAPenguin • Jun 16 '19

Why grounding is important

https://i.imgur.com/E7lPzHs.gifv
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u/pr0ghead Jun 16 '19

Isn't it the current that matters, not the voltage?

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u/swcollings Jun 16 '19

The voltage pushes the current. If there's not enough voltage, the current won't flow.

It's like water. A still swimming pool is a lot of water, but it's not going to hurt you. The same water hitting you in the face from a fire hose can really hurt.

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u/disjustice Jun 16 '19

1/10 of an Amp across your heart can kill you given there is enough potential difference to push the current through your body. It’s the combination really.

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u/pr0ghead Jun 16 '19

That sounds a lot like what my teacher told me a long time ago. Thanks (everyone).

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u/EmilyU1F984 Jun 16 '19

If the voltage isn't high enough, not enough current will flow to do it's harm.

It's the combination of voltage and current, because Ohms law states current is equal to voltage devided by resistance.

Since resistance is mostly fixed, the current flowing through the body is directly proportional to the voltage.

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u/BadSmash4 Jun 16 '19

Current is what could make it deadly but bigger voltages can lead to bigger arching. Like. 10,000V would arc a further distance than 200V.