h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

clive how longs it been man?

I'm sure it's been far too long.

*fiddles with the lightswitch so it electrocutes anyone who tries to switch it of*

*puts on dry rubber glove and switches the light off*

*a sharop spike shoots out, throught the gloves and into Aries. 230 volt 20 Ampere electricity shoot out of the spike*
(230 volt 80 mA is the minimum lethal dosis.)

and where did you learn that?

Physics class. The only usefull thing I've ever learnt there.

I think you should go check that, I think you'll find it depends on the person as to what voltage/ampage will kill them

No, 230/80 will always kill, because to get 80mA you need to have a certain resistance.

I would have though 80mA was a bit small to kill someone.

Not at 230 volt.

It isn't the voltage that kills, its the ampage.

But you need voltage to.

Not really, well yes but only a small amount.

It depends how much resistence and ampereage you have.

I think this is right but let me just run it past you.

Voltage is the speed of the current measured in Volts
Current is the amount of energy measured in Amps
Resistance causes heat not electrical energy

Not quite, see it as little guys with sandwiches. Ampere is how many little guys there are, voltage is how many sandwiches have they got. Resistence eats sandwiches.

and again in a less cartoonified way that won't rattle around my head for the rest of the day?

That's the way I was taught.

Well what-ever works