Question

The relatively high resistivity of dry skin, about 1 x 10^6 ohms - m, can safely limit the flow of current into deeper tissues of the body. Suppose an electrical worker places his palm on an instrument whose metal case is accidently connected to a high voltage. The skin of the palm is about 1.5mm thick. Assume the area of skin on the worker's palm that would contact a flat panel is 1.0

Answer 1

According to the values given, and to the similarity with the subject raised in the question, the subject is resistance and conductivity. With the data presented we can find the resistance in the palm skin. The formula relating resistivity (ρ) to resistance (R), cross-sectional area (A) and length (L) is

`R = (\rho L)/(A)`

Where,

L = Length

A = Area

`\rho`= Resistivity

Our values are given as,

`A= 1*10^(-2)m^2`

`L = 1.5mm`

`\rho = 1*10^6 \Omega \cdot m`

`R = ((1*10^6)(1.5*10^(-3)))/(1*10^(-2))`

`R = 1.5*10^5\Omega`

`R = 0.5M\Omega`

Therefore the resistance of the skin of the palm is
`0.5M\Omega`