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From: makaren@alberta.UUCP (Darrell Makarenko)
Newsgroups: net.sci
Subject: Re: Question about Electricity
Message-ID: <714@alberta.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 1-Nov-85 15:02:38 EST
Article-I.D.: alberta.714
Posted: Fri Nov  1 15:02:38 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 1-Nov-85 22:29:07 EST
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Organization: U. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
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> ++
> > If you put a live electrical wire into a large
> > swimming pool, what happens to the current?
> 
> a quickly widening cone.  Since the electons repel each other, the
> main current would take up as much of the conductor as it can while still
> having some component in the direction toward the ground.
> -Mark

 I remember doing experiments in grade 12 science showing
 that pure water does not conduct electricity.  Salt water did conduct
 because of the Na+ and Cl- ions.  Of course air does not conduct
 electricity either but lightning still hits the ground.
 Question: Does pure water conduct electricity?  If it does not
 (as I believe) why does one have to be extra carefull about getting
 elecrocuted when standing in a puddle of water??