electricity question

[Jaged]

I have one of those funky electro lamps. You know, the kind that when you touch the electricity goes around your hand. Well I found that when you put metal up against it you can get an electrical arc by holding more metal close to that metal. Its really pretty amusing because I am a pyro. My question is why does the electricity burn you when it arcs to your skin. if you touch the metal it flows through your hand with out any pain, but if you hold it a few mm away it arcs to your hand and hurts like a bitch if you are dumb enough to hold it there. I am obviously no genious on subjects like this, but I figured maybe one of you is. Why does it work like that?

[Dharkbayne]

That's because the entire electrical current is going to your hand at once or something, and it heats up really fast. Try touching it with the tip of your nose, or something small (Like your penis), it gets really hot

[Jaged]

Yeah that makes sence. If you touch it woth your hole hand the same amount of electricity is going through your hole hand, but if it arcs it is going through you at one point.... kinda.

[QuakCow]

something to do with restricting of the flow blah blah blah, electricity isn't my thing, im more physics

[SDM]

When you touch it firmly you create a good ground and the current goes right through you un-noticed.


When you arc it, it's not the electricity that burns you, it's the atmosphere between your finger and the lamp literaly exploding.


edit. example: An Arc welder. Hold it off the steel and it welds the steel (actually melts two pieces of steel together. Touch the welding rod to the steel and it won't do shit.

[Jaged]

Thanks for your answers. Why pay for a service like ask google when you have PSU?

[Baneblade]

It's like the difference between a high tension power line and a lightning bolt...The lightning's entire energy is focused on a relativly small area...the metal diffuses it...

Antoher good analogy is sunlight, a magnifying glass, and ants. Sunlight itself is powerful, but not focused enough to burn the ants. Add in the magnifying glass and you focus most of the energy into a small point.

Sparks, zaps, lightning etc, are all focused energy. Thus they burn.

[SDM]

It's like the difference between a high tension power line and a lightning bolt...The lightning's entire energy is focused on a relativly small area...the metal diffuses it...

Antoher good analogy is sunlight, a magnifying glass, and ants. Sunlight itself is powerful, but not focused enough to burn the ants. Add in the magnifying glass and you focus most of the energy into a small point.

Sparks, zaps, lightning etc, are all focused energy. Thus they burn.
wrong.

[Jaged]

So by that logic, if a lightning bolt strikes a swimming pool I am in I should be fine?


Edit: elaborate SDM

[BUGGER]

no, dont know why though. More spacing in water molecuels maybe.

[TekDragon]

SDM is correct.

It's the exergonic reaction of the air and electricity meeting your hand. I don't think the arc weilder comparison is correct, but it gives an example of a similar effect.

[Infernus]

So by that logic, if a lightning bolt strikes a swimming pool I am in I should be fine?


Edit: elaborate SDM


Not at all... water conducts electrical flow very well...

[SDM]

SDM is correct. I don't think the arc weilder comparison is correct, but it gives an example of a similar effect.
The arc welder comparison is perfect. The welding electrode (stick) has a coating that creates an ideal atmosphere at contact to control the arc. It's the exact same thing happening with his finger on the lamp, the difference is, the welder is controlled through phase and amprage, and intensified through current and artificial atmosphere. Quit making me try to explain, and read a book you n00bs.

[TekDragon]

the difference is.... phase and amprage, and intensified through current and artificial atmosphere.

Hence my point.

n00b.