Physics Current Electricity Level: High School

The damage caused by electrical shock depends on the current flowing through the body; 1mA can be felt and 5mA is painful. Above 15mA a person loses muscle control, and 70mA can be fatal. A person with dry skin has a resistance from one arm to the other arm of about 130000 ohms. When wet the resistance drops to about 5100 ohms.

a) What is the minimum voltage placed the arms that would produce a current that could be felt by a person with dry skin? Answer in units of V.

b)With the same electric potential what would be the current if the person has wet skin? Answer the units of mA.

c)What would be the minimum voltage that would produce a current that could be felt when the skin is wet? Answer in units of V.