Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

struggle4progress

(119,717 posts)
Mon Jun 10, 2024, 10:48 PM Jun 2024

A poll from the Department of Inquiring Minds Needing to Know


11 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
Electrocute him
0 (0%)
Feed him to the sharks
7 (64%)
That poor sad sack really needs a whopping dose of cosmetic psychiatric meds
4 (36%)
Show usernames
Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll
3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
A poll from the Department of Inquiring Minds Needing to Know (Original Post) struggle4progress Jun 2024 OP
I don't think the sharks deserve that oily orange thing Skittles Jun 2024 #1
Well... 2naSalit Jun 2024 #2
I thought this would be the case. but just to make sure I asked an AI lapfog_1 Jun 2024 #3

lapfog_1

(29,905 posts)
3. I thought this would be the case. but just to make sure I asked an AI
Mon Jun 10, 2024, 11:06 PM
Jun 2024

can you be electrocuted by a large battery a few feet from you in seawater?

No, you are unlikely to be electrocuted by a large battery a few feet from you in seawater, despite seawater being a good conductor. Here's why:

Electricity Follows Path of Least Resistance: While seawater conducts electricity, the human body offers much higher resistance compared to the surrounding water. Electricity will naturally take the path of least resistance, meaning it's more likely to flow through the seawater directly than through your body.

Distance Matters: The farther you are from the battery, the weaker the electrical field becomes. A few feet away, the current reaching you from the battery would likely be too weak to cause harm.

Rapid Discharge: When a large battery comes into contact with seawater, it might rapidly discharge due to the short circuit created by the conductive water. This rapid discharge would further reduce the voltage reaching you.

Of course staying with the boat won't save you from the shark... the boat sank and sometime you need to go to the surface to breath, unless you happen to have like a few dozen filled scuba tanks on board and the shark decides to go away after a while AND the boat sinks in fairly shallow water ( 100 feet or so ).

BTW, the sharks attack swimmers on the surface because they think you are a seal of a large fish in trouble... they bite and decide you don't taste all that good to them. You are not their normal prey. That said a single bite can kill you with the blood loss... not to mention the blood in the water might cause other sharks to attack you by mistake. The best think is to ride that boat to the shallow bottom with the scuba tanks and hang out, sharks don't like to attack from above you. Stay on the bottom and carefully move to the shore. The big battery will not electrocute you in any case.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»A poll from the Departmen...