Question

If your friend turns the generator on while your hand is touching the generator dome, and your feet are separated from ground by your standing on the styrofoam box, you notice that you feel the hair on your arm tingle and your hair start to stand up on end. Why does this happen? (you will get to try this in lab.)

If your friend turns the generator on while your hand is touching the generator dome, and your feet are firmly on the ground, you do not feel or observe any of these events. Why not? (you can also try this in lab.)

Given the case where your feet are on the styrofoam box and you are separated from ground, you have two options for discharging yourself. One: step off the box and onto ground or Two: stay on the box and invite a friend to extend their hand or finger to touch your hand or finger. Which of these two events do you expect will create a more “shocking” experience, and why?

Answer 1

When you touch the generator, the charges can’t get to the ground through the styrofoam box. You are now filled up with electrons. The electrons repel each other and tries to get as far away from each other as possible.This makes your hair stand up because it is filled with electrons that are repelling each other.

If feet are in contact with the ground then all the charges will go into the ground through your body. So, there will be no observation like above.

If you step off the box, all that electricity will go through your body into the ground giving you a shock. Same is the case with the friend as the charge will move from your body to your friend's body to the ground. I think the first one is more shocking experience as the ground is a very good conductor of electricity and it happens very rapidly in comparison to the human body.