In terms of electrical shock, touch potential is when current flows from which path?

In terms of electrical shock, touch potential is when current flows from which path?

• A. hand to hand, across the chest
• B. foot to foot
• C. hand to foot
• D. head to toe

Answer: (A)

Touch potential is the voltage difference between two points a person is simultaneously touching, causing current to flow through the body from one contact to the other. When both hands are on conductors at different potentials, the current path goes from one hand through the chest to the other hand. That chest-to-chest path is the classic dangerous route described by touch potential. Foot-to-foot describes step potential, which involves voltage differences on the ground between the feet rather than two hand contacts. Hand-to-foot would route current from a hand contact to a foot contact, not the typical two-hand, chest-crossing path associated with touch potential. Head-to-toe isn’t a standard pair of contact points for this concept.

Touch potential is the voltage difference between two points a person is simultaneously touching, causing current to flow through the body from one contact to the other. When both hands are on conductors at different potentials, the current path goes from one hand through the chest to the other hand. That chest-to-chest path is the classic dangerous route described by touch potential.

Foot-to-foot describes step potential, which involves voltage differences on the ground between the feet rather than two hand contacts. Hand-to-foot would route current from a hand contact to a foot contact, not the typical two-hand, chest-crossing path associated with touch potential. Head-to-toe isn’t a standard pair of contact points for this concept.