Re: lightning dangers

[Joseph Bellina <jbellina@SAINTMARYS.EDU>]

By current density I mean the current per unit area, so that the
integral of the current density dotted with the area is the total
current.

cheers

On Fri, 30 Apr 1999, Herb Gottlieb wrote:

> On Fri, 30 Apr 1999 10:10:14 -0500 Joseph Bellina
> <jbellina@SAINTMARYS.EDU> writes:
> > I have read few of the previous notes, so this may have been covered,
> > but the shock you feel from static electricity is not electrical, but
> > thermal because of the high current density at the point of contact.
> When
> > you hold on to a metal object, a pin or a key, the current is
> distributed
> > over a large area, the current density is reduced, and you feel
> > nothing.
>
> What do you mean by "current density?"  Current refers to the number of
> electrons
> that pass a given point in a given amount of time.  But CURRENT DENSITY
> ?????
>
> Herb Gottlieb from New York City
> (Where our population density is greatest in the inner city)