Question
The average resistivity of the human body (apart from sur face resistance of the skin) is about $5.0 \Omega \cdot \mathrm{m} .$ The conducting path between the right and left hands can be approximated as a cylinder $1.6 \mathrm{m}$ long and $0.10 \mathrm{m}$ in diameter. The skin resistance can be made negligible by soaking the hands in salt water.a. What is the resistance between the hands if the skin resistance is negligible?b. If skin resistance is negligible, what potential difference between the hands is needed for a lethal shock current of $100 \mathrm{mA} ?$ Your result shows that even small potential differences can produce dangerous currents when skin is damp.
Step 1
The formula for resistance is given by: \[ R = \rho \frac{L}{A} \] where \( \rho \) is the resistivity, \( L \) is the length of the conduction path, and \( A \) is the cross-sectional area of the conduction path. Show more…
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The average resistivity of the human body (apart from surface resistance of the skin) is about $5.0 \Omega \cdot \mathrm{m} .$ The conducting path between the right and left hands can be approximated as a cylinder 1.6 m long and 0.10 m in diameter. The skin resistance can be made negligible by soaking the hands in salt water. a. What is the resistance between the hands if the skin resistance is negligible? b. If skin resistance is negligible, what potential difference between the hands is needed for a lethal shock current of $100 \mathrm{mA} ?$ Your result shows that even small potential differences can produce dangerous currents when skin is damp.
The average bulk resistivity of the human body (apart from surface resistance of the skin) is about 5.0$\Omega$ $\cdot$ m. The conducting path between the hands can be represented approximately as a cylinder 1.6 m long and 0.10 m in diameter. The skin resistance can be made negligible by soaking the hands in salt water. (a) What is the resistance between the hands if the skin resistance is negligible? (b) What potential difference between the hands is needed for a lethal shock current of 100 mA? (Note that your result shows that small potential differences produce dangerous currents when the skin is damp.) (c) With the current in part (b), what power is dissipated in the body?
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