Question

While taking a bath, a person touches the metal case of a radio. The path through the person to the drainpipe and ground has a resistance of 4000Ω. What is the smallest voltage on the case of the radio that could cause ventricular fibrillation?

a) 80 V
b) 40 V
c) 120 V
d) 60 V

Answer 1

The smallest voltage required to cause ventricular fibrillation at a resistance of 4000Ω, would be 400 V, calculated using Ohm's Law. None of the options provided in the multiple-choice question reach this threshold.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is asking for the smallest voltage that could be present on the metal case of the radio that could potentially lead to ventricular fibrillation when the person touches it.

Ventricular fibrillation can be caused by a current as small as 100 mA (0.1 A). Given the resistance of the path through the person is 4000Ω, we can use Ohm's Law (V = IR) to calculate the minimum voltage that would produce this current:

V = IR

= 0.1 A × 4000Ω

= 400 V

However, none of the options provided in the question (80 V, 40 V, 120 V, 60 V) are high enough to produce this critical current through the given resistance.

Therefore, based on these options, none of the voltages mentioned could cause ventricular fibrillation.