It actually takes all paths proportionally. This is partly why nearby lightning strikes are so dangerous. Even if the ground is a better conductor than your legs, enough current can still flow to stop your heart.
There is a path, from the ground, up your leg, across your torso (including your heart) and down your other leg.
This is the reason that downed high voltage power lines are so dangerous. Walking with a long stride can create enough of a differential to fibrillate your heart.
I would assume by electricity they mean current and it quite literally does not follow the path of least resistance it is just split inversly proportionally based on the resistance of paths.
21 Comments
StrongHorseWeakNeigh@piefed.social · 49 pts · 244d
I mean high voltage also takes the path of least resistance. But sometimes the path of least resistance is the air.
cynar@lemmy.world · 23 pts · 244d
It actually takes all paths proportionally. This is partly why nearby lightning strikes are so dangerous. Even if the ground is a better conductor than your legs, enough current can still flow to stop your heart.
Alexstarfire@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 244d
Why is your heart in your legs?
TheOakTree@lemmy.zip · 7 pts · 244d
In the eyes of the charge, your heart is just the path to your legs, like a driveway!
It's like a really flawed idea of love!
cynar@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 243d
There is a path, from the ground, up your leg, across your torso (including your heart) and down your other leg.
This is the reason that downed high voltage power lines are so dangerous. Walking with a long stride can create enough of a differential to fibrillate your heart.
Alexstarfire@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 243d
Thank you, Drax.
becausechemistry@piefed.social · 40 pts · 244d
Basic science: there are conductors and there are insulators
Advanced science: also there are semiconductors because of quantum mechanics and stuff
Mad science: everything is a conductor if you’re brave enough
pankuleczkapl@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 24 pts · 244d
Actual science: these are arbitrary categories of materials based on their band gaps, so these names don't really mean anything precise
becausechemistry@piefed.social · 16 pts · 244d
Pfft sounds kinda woke to me smh my head
ChaosMonkey@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 6 pts · 244d
What do semiconductors have to do with quantum mechanics?
becausechemistry@piefed.social · 5 pts · 244d
Orbital overlap leading to band gaps, mostly
muzzle@lemmy.zip · 28 pts · 244d
Meanwhile high frequency signals: conductors? Where we are going we don't need conductors!
cybervseas@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 244d
I understand it and still think it’s incredible. Lightning is on the order of 100 million volts, and 30 thousand amps. Wow.
zxqwas@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 244d
At high enough voltage everything becomes a conductor.
WanderingThoughts@europe.pub · 5 pts · 244d
Just like in a river, water flows around the rocks but in a flood the rocks flow with the water.
Shanedino@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 244d
I would assume by electricity they mean current and it quite literally does not follow the path of least resistance it is just split inversly proportionally based on the resistance of paths.
TheOakTree@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 244d
The largest portion of current travels through the path of least resistance, so it's almost there. But not quite.
Tlaloc_Temporal@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 244d
Well the path of least resistance is pretty full right now, the path of next most resistance seems like less bother.
NeatNit@discuss.tchncs.de · 10 pts · 244d
The dose makes the poison!
Zwiebel@feddit.org · 8 pts · 244d
High frequency enters the room
thatradomguy@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 244d