On Mon, Mar 26, 2001 at 12:22:56PM -0600, John Hasler wrote: > Rick Rezinas writes: > > For low voltage work (like with static ectricity),... > > "Static Electricity" is _high_ voltage.
To quantify: air conducts electricity (draws a spark) when the electric field is stronger than 3x10^6 volts/meter. If a spark jumps one millimeter from your finger to something else, it crossed a potential difference of 3x10^6 V/m * 10^-3 m = 3,000 Volts. (There's not much current involved, though, which is why it doesn't hurt.) This large potential, however, is due to a relatively small amount of charge and the fact that your fingertip is sharply curved (ever notice how the palm of your hand never draws a spark, only the fingertip?). This charge can be harmlessly dissapated, as noted, by touching the metal part of your box's case. Rob -- The young lady had an unusual list, Linked in part to a structural weakness. She set no preconditions.
