You have asked a question that is a function of an individual's body resistance.
The amount of current results in the severity of the shock. Under most cicumstances the current a battery can deliver is not a function of shock - unless the power source has a limited current capability.
For example the 20 uA at 2000 volts will not cause a shock which most people can feel. It does not mean the current is not flowing - just means the body does not react violently to it.
Lets assume your body exhibits a 100K ohms of resistance - so for a 50 volt source the current able to flow is 0.5 mA - which we don't normally feel the 25 volt source will have a 0.25 amp flow - again we don't normally feel it.
Now the 2000 volt source - if it can will deliver 20 mA - which will would most definitely feel, but because you have limited the current to 20 uA - we would not feel the current flowing through our body.
Given that it takes about 50mA (or even less) current to cause arrhythmia what saves us from being shocked by batteries is their low voltage. A car battery can easily weld a solid bar of copper if it shorts across its terminals simply because the bar has very low resistance, and the battery can easily supply a short term current of 200A before discharging completely. But we don't see people getting burnt by car batteries because of their low voltage - 12VDC (or conversely due to the resistance of the human body). However, any DC (or AC) greater than 40V poses a risk of electrocution - and the risk increases (i.e., lesser voltage required to get a shock) if the body part touching the electrical item is wet.
Since shock is something that is perceived by the person being shocked there is no correct answer. The same amount of power is available in each example. The ability to jump an air gap would be another way to quantify the question. The ability to jump that air gap is primarily a function of voltage. An example would be a spark plug in an internal combustion engine, 50,000 V at 5 milliamps!
To put it simply: your body is a resistor. Ohm's law states that *voltage = current x resistance*. There is a certain amount of current that will result in a shock. Let call that '*I*', and lets call the resistance of that portion of the body you are trying to shock, '*R*'. Therefore, *voltage = I x R*.
Now, what is the resistance of that portion of the body that you are trying to shock? That depends on a number of factors, not all of which I probably know, but some of them are: whether the skin, in that region, is damp; the surface area of contact with the probe [that carries the current being used to shock that area]; time of day; whether the skin is broken in that area; etc.
The severity of the shock is determined by how much current flows through the flesh in the path of the current [NOT the voltage]. The role of voltage is to induce the current, BUT the _amount_ of current will be determined by both the voltage and the resistance of the current path through the skin and flesh involved.
From Wikipedia:
The minimum current a human can feel depends on the current type (AC or DC) and frequency. A person can feel at least 1 mA (rms) of AC at 60 Hz, while at least 5 mA for DC. At around 10 milliamperes, AC current passing through the arm of a 68 kg (150 lb) human can cause powerful muscle contractions; the victim is unable to voluntarily control muscles and cannot release an electrified object.[2] This is known as the "let go threshold" and is a criterion for shock hazard in electrical regulations.
The current may, if it is high enough, cause tissue damage or fibrillation which leads to cardiac arrest; more than 30 mA[3] of AC (rms, 60 Hz) or 300 – 500 mA of DC can cause fibrillation.[4][5]
Thanks for writing. But my question was which one will more shock. if same man get shock from both cells, shock from 50v, cell wud be more as the current capacity of dat cell is more than other. This wll be same for everyone.
What we are trying to say is there is no pat answer to your question. You have to apply the physics and do the math because every situation is different -- i.e. different current paths due to different modes of contact, different skin resistances, different times of day, different levels of perspiration (more, probably, after the first shock)...
But, given the exact same conditions (not likely in the real world), the higher voltage will produce the greater "shock" [if you define "shock" to mean the same thing in all situations -- as even _that_ is subjective.
And when you say a battery rated at 50V 1Amp, that "1 Amp" rating must mean something like, "maximum current allowed", or "fused at 1 Amp", or "50 volts at 1 Amp [and a different voltage at some other current]" or "50V 1 Amp-Hour [AHr]". A battery (or _any_ voltage source) only delivers as much current as the load allows, up to the maximum current it is capable of delivering (due to internal resistance the voltage will change as well -- more or less, depending on the magnitude of that resistance). So, if you apply the terminals of your 50V battery to someones body part, it won't necessarily cause 1 Amp to flow -- in fact, it will, likely, be much less than that. Same with your 25V battery. 2 Amps will only flow if the body part has a resistance of 12.5Ω -- very unlikely!
You really cannot prove that statement! That's the problem you keep saying "Shock" where shock is not measurable. If you ask the question as, "which will pass more current through the body"? Then the answer is obvious if the persons resistance is known. Again shock is not a standard measurement. It takes both Voltage and Amps to shock a person and two people can/will have different resistances. Lethality has been researched and can be quantified to some extent but even then a shock that would be lethal to one person may not be lethal to another. Even the same person will have different resistances depending on if they are sweating or not so one leg of your three legged stool that is the answer to your question is sitting on quicksand. Lets see how that translates.:~)
Actually, its only current that causes a shock. Voltage is incidental, in that it's only role is to induce the current. If there is current, then there is a voltage to produce it, but it's not the voltage that causes the shock sensation.
✨ The discussion addresses which battery among 50V 1A, 25V 2A, and 2000V 0.00002A supplies a stronger electric shock. The consensus is that the severity of an electric shock depends primarily on the current flowing through the human body, which is influenced by the body's resistance and the voltage applied, as described by Ohm's law (V = IR). Higher voltage can induce higher current if the body's resistance allows it, but the actual current—and thus the shock intensity—is limited by both the source's maximum current capacity and the body's resistance, which varies with factors like skin moisture and contact area. For example, a 50V source with 1A capacity can deliver more current through a typical body resistance than a 25V source with 2A capacity, resulting in a stronger shock sensation. The 2000V source with only 20 µA current capacity is unlikely to cause a perceptible shock despite its high voltage, as the current is too low to trigger a reaction. The discussion emphasizes that voltage alone does not cause shock; current flow through the body is the critical factor, and shock perception varies between individuals and conditions. Safety thresholds are noted, with currents above approximately 50mA posing serious risk, and voltages above 40V considered hazardous under certain conditions.
TL;DR: Shock severity depends on current through your body; “A person can feel at least 1 mA of AC at 60 Hz.” Use I = V/R to estimate risk. [Electric shock]
Why it matters: This FAQ helps students, hobbyists, and technicians compare 25–50 V batteries and a 2000 V microamp source safely and correctly.
Quick Facts
Perception ~1 mA AC; let‑go ~10 mA; ventricular fibrillation risk above ~30 mA AC. [Electric shock]
Which gives a stronger shock: 50 V 1 A or 25 V 2 A?
Neither rating alone predicts shock. Shock depends on the current that actually flows through you: I = V/R. Under identical contact conditions, the higher voltage source forces more current, so 50 V would feel stronger. The amp rating is only a source limit, not what you will necessarily receive. [Elektroda, Steve Lawson, post #21668224]
Will 2000 V at 20 μA give a shock I can feel?
At 20 microamps most people feel nothing, even if the voltage is very high. The current is far below typical perception thresholds. “We would not feel the current flowing through our body.” [Elektroda, David Adams, post #21668217]
How do I calculate shock current from a battery?
Use Ohm’s law. Estimate body resistance for the contact path, then compute I = V/R. Example: if R is 100 kΩ and V is 50 V, I ≈ 0.5 mA. That is near or below sensation for many. Voltage induces current, but current determines the effect. [Elektroda, Steve Lawson, post #21668222]
Why can a 12 V car battery weld metal but rarely shocks people?
A car battery can source hundreds of amps into a very low‑resistance short, enabling welding. Human skin usually has much higher resistance, so 12 V drives little current through the body under dry contact. Wet or broken skin changes that risk. [Elektroda, Rohit Dubla, post #21668219]
What current levels are dangerous to humans?
Typical guideposts: perception about 1 mA AC, involuntary “let‑go” around 10 mA, and ventricular fibrillation risk above about 30 mA AC. Duration and current path matter greatly. [Electric shock]
Does AC feel worse than DC at the same current?
Yes. People are generally more sensitive to 50–60 Hz AC. The same current level from AC is often perceived more strongly than DC. [Elektroda, David Adams, post #21668217]
Is the saying “1 A at 50 V will kill you” accurate?
It’s misleading. Lethality depends on current through the heart, duration, and path. Serious risk starts far below 1 A; around 30 mA AC can trigger fibrillation. Higher currents and longer exposure increase danger. [Electric shock]
Does a higher amp rating mean a bigger shock?
Not by itself. The load (your body) sets the current via resistance. A 2 A‑rated source and a 1 A‑rated source can deliver the same tiny current if body resistance is high. Ratings only cap the maximum available. [Elektroda, Steve Lawson, post #21668224]
What body resistance should I assume for quick estimates?
Dry, intact skin can be tens of kilohms; wet, salty, or broken skin can drop to a fraction of that. Lower resistance means higher current at the same voltage. Worksite safety treats wet conditions as high risk. [OSHA Electrical Incidents: Electric Current]
Can very high voltage be safe if current is microamps?
Often yes for sensation, because perception thresholds are in milliamps. Example: 2000 V at 20 μA is below what most people feel. Edge case: arc paths or broken skin can reduce resistance unexpectedly. [Elektroda, David Adams, post #21668217]
Can voltage jump an air gap and shock me without contact?
Yes. High voltage can ionize air and arc across a small gap, then drive current if it finds a path. Spark plugs routinely jump gaps at ~50 kV and a few milliamps. [Elektroda, Chuck Sydlo, post #21668221]
What is the “let‑go threshold”?
It is the current at which you cannot release a conductor due to muscle contraction. Around 10 mA AC at 60 Hz for an average adult. Exposures above this become difficult to self‑interrupt. [Electric shock]
How do I quickly estimate worst‑case shock from a small battery?
Identify the open‑circuit voltage.
Estimate body resistance for the contact path (dry vs wet).
What voltages should non‑experts treat as hazardous?
Treat roughly 40–50 V and above with caution, especially with wet skin or across the chest. Lower resistance rapidly increases current at these voltages, elevating risk of dangerous pathways. [Elektroda, Rohit Dubla, post #21668219]
Does “50 V 1 A” mean it will push 1 A through me?
No. That label reflects capability or a protected limit, not a guaranteed output. Any source only supplies the current that the load allows, up to its limit. Your body’s resistance sets the actual current. [Elektroda, Steve Lawson, post #21668224]
