Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site alberta.UUCP Path: utzoo!utcsri!ubc-vision!alberta!makaren 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 References: <621@hlwpc.UUCP> <662@petrus.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: U. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Lines: 16 > ++ > > 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??