Electrical Shock Causes
An electrical shock is received when electrical current passes through the body.
Current will pass through the body in a variety of situations. Whenever two wires are at different voltages, current will pass between them if they are connected. Your body can connect the wires if you touch both of them at the same time. This is what electrical workers call "complete the circuit". Therefore, current will pass through your body.
In most household wiring in the U.S., the black wires and the red wires are at 120 volts. The white wires are at 0 volts because they are connected to ground. The connection to the ground is often through conducting ground rods driven into the earth.
You can even receive a shock when you are not in contact with an electrical ground. Contact with both live wires of a 240-volt cable will deliver a shock.
This type of shock can occur because one live wire may be at +120 volts while the other is at -120 volts during an alternating current cycle-a difference of 240 volts.
You can also receive a shock from electrical components that are not grounded properly. Even contact with another person who is receiving an electrical shock may cause you to be shocked.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-5. Whenever two wires are at different voltages, _____ will pass between them if they are connected.
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