How Does the Human Body Generate Electricity and the Myth of the Electric Eel?

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Each basic element, like the oxygen you breathe, and the sodium and potassium you eat, have a certain number of protons and electrons that will distinguish it from other elements. Most elements have the same number of electrons as they do protons. This will give it a balance between negative and positive charges. Protons reside in the nucleus (center) of the atom while electrons rotate around the nucleus.

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[jekl_]

It’s got electrolytes. It’s what plants crave.

[borismuller]

At Zürich Zoo there’s an electric eel tank, and when it’s feeding time, they also stroke the eels with rubber gloves. There’s an LCD display that shows how much electricity is being discharged and it always goes wild at feeding time.

[bananomet]

An idea for next video: Why can animals drink almost any water in the nature, but humans get sick without boilding it first? Also why animals can eat raw food while humans can mainly eat processed food (fire).

[Robynn-prlv]

This channel is great at "this question never occurred to me but now I need to know the answer" videos.

[mikecorbeil]

Fine episode. It provides somewhat of a refresher for me ; having graduated in Pure & Applied Sciences in college, 1981-1984, but never having again taken any chemistry or biology courses, meaning a lot has been forgotten. As for the *EEL*, not sure, but 600 volts is a lot, and I don't know what normal household amperage is, but 110 volts, definitely common in the US and Canada, can send a person flying across a room ; depending on how a person touches the current. Saw my brother and an aunt's apt companion both go flying, fully in the air, maybe a foot off of the floor, when they were "tinkering" around with a wall outlet, having used two pieces of metal and placing them in the two main holes of the wall outlets.

Both times, I was just coming back, entered the main corridors, saw these two playing with these wall outlets, and the suddenly were projected through the air, ramming the walls on the opposite sides of these hallways. Brother didn't hit his head, only his back, but my aunts friend seriously smacked both and I thought, " _Oh, damn, head concussion_ ", and yep, concussion, thought not severe enough to need to go to a hospital. She was still dazed some weeks later but was able to function ; I suppose more gently, say, than normal, but still functioning on her own. This is with only 110 volts, and if not mistaken, then I think this was due to the alternating current. Our bodies then form like a circuit ; something like that anyway.

200 volts, DON'T TOUCH, I learned when working for an electrical commerical sign cie. If recalling correctly from a physics course in Electricity & Magnetism during college, the amperage is of even greater danger, if it's high enough anyway ; but, I don't know how high. What we learned about voltage in that course was that it provides the thrust, push, say, whereas, so we were told, the amperage is the real killer. Of course, voltage being strong enough to propel/throw us through the air could be fatal, depending on where and how we land, but the amperage was said to be more dangerous. Still don't want to get 200 volt charge, for 110 is enough to send a person flying, and my brother wasn't a small guy, but he took off like a rocket.

[PoolKid]

Simon: Mentions Baghdad batteries
Me: Has nostaglic flashbacks about Mythbusters

[marsdeimos]

By turning to the dark side of the Force, obviously.

[andywright]

Love your vids and this one was especially interesting, one thing to note is you said " 0.8 to 2 volts of electrical current" referring to the Baghdad Batteries, this should be "0.8 to 2 volts of potential energy" your mixing two different units is like saying your car has 100HP of torque

[emmettturner]

ElectroBOOM begs to differ regarding the so-called "Baghdad Battery." It's a very recent video (days or a week or so before this one). You should seriously give it a watch!

[metalbob]

If you have work in a plastics factory you then would know how the prey of an electric eel feels. You can get a static discharge from nearly 15cm/6 in away from the metal grinder machines and the machines themselves . It can drop individuals to their knees for those not used to the sensation. BTW yes OSHA said this phenomena is uncontrollable.

[joshgellis]

This is a fascinating thing. I sort of remember when I used to be fascinated by LEMONS have a tiny amount of power in them.

[heyyou]

You're really amping up these videos.

[spacecatboy]

the woman who fell 2 miles to earth into the jungle and then walked for days to find rescue said the only animal she really fear in the jungle was the electric eel

[oslonorway]

What did the eel say to the other eels on prom night?

_"What is this chemistry between us? "_

[christelheadington]

We're all just potato clocks, at heart.

[TheyTalkPolitics]

You should do a whole video on the Baghdad batteries

[tommylee]

Actually recently a related species of the Electric Eel was discovered and this particular species of Electric Eel has a much higher voltage discharge.

[jacobellinger]

I vote that Simon be forced to watch Idiocracy

[MAGGOT_VOMIT]

_@ __3:45__ "Sir you have an Aneurysm."_

Jessie Ventura: *_"I ain't got time to Aneurysm."_*

[stevencook]

LOVE YOU SIMON BUT THE MUSIC UNDERNEATH DRIVES ME CRAZY.