• Question: Why don't I get a shock of a electric fence but other people do

    Asked by sean1234 to Cathal, Ciara, Emma, Michael, Sive on 15 Nov 2013.
    • Photo: Sive Finlay

      Sive Finlay answered on 15 Nov 2013:

      Hey Sean,
      I don’t know, that’s a strange one! Maybe it’s because you might be wearing shoes with rubber soles when other people aren’t?
      Sive

    • Photo: Michael Nolan

      Michael Nolan answered on 15 Nov 2013:

      Hi Sean,

      when you touch the electric fence the current wants to flow through you. If you stand on the ground you provide a pathway for the current to flow, as it wants to go to ground and so the passage of the (low strength) current gives you a small shock.
      If you wear shoes made from insulating materials, such as rubber soles, then the current cannot go to ground and you feel no shock. So birds can site on the electric wires and be fine as they never touch the ground.

      There may also be individual factors that determine if the current will flow through you or not, but that is outside my area.

      One should really test the different people under the same conditions to look at this properly. I would think being sweaty for example may allow current to flow compared to someone who is not perspiring.

      but nice question!

      M

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