When does a human body get shocked by electricity

Question

Today I touched the live phase of the electrical line of my house wearing rubber shoes. However, I still got an electric shock

As I wore rubber shoes it seems to me that I shouldn't be get shocked. As there is no conduction through my body to ground.

Why did I get an electric shock?

What will happen if I touch only a phase of 11KV transmission line with no contact with the ground, or touching anything with my body?

Conductor (salty bag aka body), thin insulator (aka sole of shoes), ground. Sounds like a capacitor to me. — JIm Dearden, Jun 05 '15 at 09:39
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/direct-current/chpt-3/ohms-law-again/ Read this — Laki, Jun 05 '15 at 10:38
Nothing to do with electronic design - question should be closed. — Leon Heller, Jun 05 '15 at 10:53
if you touch an 11kV power line without touching anything else you would suffocate because of lack of oxygen. — Vladimir Cravero, Jun 05 '15 at 11:40
possible duplicate of [How much voltage is "dangerous"?](http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/19103/how-much-voltage-is-dangerous) — tcrosley, Jun 05 '15 at 11:53
Watch the attached video for your 11kV question: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWbBdAeW1m8 — StainlessSteelRat, Jun 05 '15 at 13:20

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 05 '15 at 11:46

As I wore rubber shoes it seems to me that I shouldn't be get shocked. As there is no conduction through my body to ground.

Only in theroy.

Your feet produce sweat, and good shoes have a way for the water to get out. Unfortunately, that is the same way for electrical current to get into your body.

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 05 '15 at 11:55

Electrocution may be caused by different reasons with different consequences. It may be 50Hz disrupting your heart rhythm or high current burning your skin. I know at least one case of lethal electrocution with 12V battery. So it's a complex question with no simple answer.

When does a human body get shocked by electricity

2 Answers2