Is it possible to receive an electric shock when you *stop* touching something?

I seem to remember as a young child being told that it is safe to touch a Van de Graff generator (for the hair demonstration), but that if you let go before it is safe you will get a nasty shock. I know a bit more about electricity now, and I'm a little skeptical now. Is it possible to get a shock from letting go of something?

Kolanaki ,
@Kolanaki@yiffit.net avatar

If you're in some kind of science experiment where you're being conditioned to not stop touching something: Yes.

stalker ,

I am not expert, but seems plausable. Shock comes from high voltage electric charge jumping from metal to skin. If you press it, you are part of the electric charge. If you are far away, charge cannot jump. Problem is only when you are couple of centimeters close to it. AFAIK, this is not current, but electric discharge, I think it cannot kill you (it is just very unpleasant), but maybe someone else knows better?

TotallyHuman OP ,

Thing that confuses me is that when you let go, you should have the same charge as the generator. No charge difference, no arc. Unless I'm wrong about something, which I probably am (hence my confusion).

catloaf ,

The generator is generating a difference. Even if you have the same potential when you're holding it, as soon as you let go, that ends.

TotallyHuman OP ,

Does the human body rapidly discharge into air or something?

catloaf ,

Enough for a change in potential to cause arcing, as we can see. I'm sure you could find relevant experimental studies, or even conduct them on yourself with a proper transformer and voltmeter.

Kalkaline ,
@Kalkaline@leminal.space avatar

Yeah, if you move your hand around on those things you'll get a static shock, it's going to hurt, but it won't kill you. If you watch those demonstrations they have a pole they ground the generator out with.

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