Human

Body

Electric Shock

Multiple-Choice Questions
Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia
 Electric Shock
Question 1

Birds land on high voltage power lines,

Why don’t they get shocked?

a) The wires they land on are insulated.

b) They are not touching ground so there

is no potential difference across their bodies.
c) Birds have large resistance

Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia

 Electric Shock
Question 1 solution
Birds land on high voltage power lines,
Why don’t they get shocked?

a) The wires they land on are insulated.

b) They are not touching ground so there
is no potential difference across their bodies.
c) Birds have large resistance
In V=IR, V refers to a potential difference across
the resistor(bird). Birds normally only touch the
lines at one potential.
Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia
 Electric Shock
Question 2

If it is electrical current that hurts us, why

do the danger signs say ‘High Voltage’?

a) It is a convention established before

people understood what is
actually dangerous.
b) V= IR, as V increases, I increases
c) High currents can not occur unless
there are high voltages.

Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia

 Electric Shock
Question 2 Solution

If it is electrical current that hurts us, why

do the danger signs say ‘High Voltage’?

a) It is a convention established before

people understood what is
actually dangerous.
b) V= IR, as V increases, I increases
c) High currents can not occur unless
there are high voltages.

Physics and Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of British Columbia

Question 3 Electric Shock

If you touched both

the hot wire from an
outlet and the neutral
wire simultaneously,
would the GFCI turn
off ?
a) Yes
b) No
Question 3 Solution Electric Shock

If you touched both

the hot wire from an
outlet and the neutral
wire simultaneously,
would the GFCI turn
off ?
a) Yes
b) No
The magnetic flux through the sense
coil stays at zero. No change in flux
is detected compared to normal
operating conditions.
 Electric Shock
Question 4

What is the main purpose of

the magnetic core?

a) To hold the sense

coil in place.
b) To magnify the B-
field inside the
sense coil.
c) To cause there
to be a B-field inside
the coil.
 Electric Shock
Question 4 Solution

What is the main purpose of

the magnetic core?

a) To hold the sense

coil in place.
b) To magnify the B-
field inside the I
sense coil. B 
2 d
c) To cause there
to be a B-field inside
the coil.