Question

You have the opportunity of using one of two power supplies for a certain application. Power supply A has a maximum voltage capacity of 1000 volts and a maximum current capacity of 0.1 amps. Power supply B has a maximum voltage capacity of 10 volts and a maximum current capacity of 10 amps. Either power supply would be suitable for your application but you would like to choose the power supply that is the safest. Your lab partner tells you that it is the current that kills you, not the voltage and suggests you pick the one with the lower current capacity. In the interest of safety you should do which of the following? Pick power supply B. Pick either power supply -- they are equally safe. Pick power supply A.

Answer 1

Answer:

Pick power supply B

Explanation:

It is a very known fact that current kills. For small potential application, it is not at all possible for a large current to pass through the resistor.

Now we should select that [power supply that does not harm our body.

The resistance that the human body offers is in the range of  1000 ohms to 100000 ohms.

For power supply A,

Given current voltage, $V_{A}$ = 1000 V

and resistance that human offered, R = 1000Ω

Therefore the current, $I_{A}$ = $\frac{V_{A}}{R}$

                                                             = 1000 / 1000

                                                             = 1 A

This current supply may harm the human body.

For power supply B,

 Given current voltage, $V_{B}$ = 10 V

and resistance that human offered, R = 1000Ω

Therefore the current, $I_{B}$ = $\frac{V_{B}}{R}$

                                                             = 10 / 1000

                                                             = 0.01 A        

This current supply does not harm the human body.      

Thus power supply B is selected as it is less harmful.

Thus the answer is Pick power supply B.