Electric shock

[musicman1956]

I read that a shock of 50mA is enough to kill me, so howcome when I got a shock from my desk light, (don't ask) of 240v rated 3 amps I didn't die. I shook a bit but I'm still here. Any ideas?

[Hopkirk]

When I was a kid I put my finger into a light socket.

It felt like my elbow dislocated, the movement of my arm was so quick and large.

I survived though, but it did scare me.

[terence7556]

that is worst case and there are many factors to be taken into consideration and im tired and cant be bothered to list them, but electricity affects different folks in different ways

[jomifl]

the electrical resistance of your skin or whatever was connecting you to the neutral or earth was too high to allow enough current to kill you through your body. The electrical resistance of dry skin can be very high, I have measured mine at 2 megohms on my hands but it varies considerable from one part of the body to another and from one tiime to another. One thing is certain, you cannot rely on it to save your life. Dont mess with electricity with bare feet, that is very dangerous. Better still don't mess with it at all.

[AlBags]

Funny Hoppy ... I can still check a live light socket with a finger. Just makes me jump a litte. Funny how it affects people differently.

[gingejbee]

I think that it's high voltage that kills - so the 50mA could be at a very high voltage.

[AlBags]

No .. it's pure current. BIG amps.
I have had so many shocks in the pasty from high energy ignition systems, I cannot remember. They are up around 150KV.

[bibblebub]

AlBags gets a friend to turn the light on http://tinyurl.com/368g22p

[AlBags]

pmsl : )

[gingejbee]

AlBags - my mistake, you're right, of course. So Physics O and A-level passes not much use to me, then!

[AlBags]

Oh .. So you researched it then? Or tried it? lol

[buildersmate]

Do not get confused between the rating of the DEVICE that you touched (3A in your case) and its ability to give you an electric shock. It is the potential difference (voltage difference) between what you touched and earth (probably 240 volts in your case), combined with the resistance to electricity in ohms that your body offers that determines how much current actually flows through your body. 50mA is often enough to be fatal.
This is why bathrooms are regarded as more dangerous when it comes to electricity - the 240V is the same but wet skin offers less resistance in the passage of electric current - so the amount passing through one's body is likely to be higher - and hence more likely to be fatal.