Hi all, I don't think you need to read any papers on the subject, unless you really need gory details. It's a fairly simple idea.
The reason shock can be mistaken for vibration and vice versa is due to the fact that most shocks are from AC power. When you get shocked by AC, your nerves get a 60 cycle (or 50 cycle) AC stimulus. If it doesn't kill you, it feels like a tingle or buzz or vibration. The tingling/buzzing/vibration sensation is also probably increased by the fact that tiny muscles near the shock site will spasm (I believe the medical term is a "fascillation") with the AC voltage. A 50 cycle or 60cycle vibration would feel very similar. Not all shocks feel like vibrations. For instance an electric fence used for cattle uses a capacitor discharge mechanism which results in a quick, exponentially decaying, discharge. (much like ESD) I know from personal experience that touching such a fence feels nothing like a vibration. It feels more like a a jolt, sort of like having every muscle in your body contract and getting a migraine headache for about half a second, then it's gone, leaving you in a cold sweat with your heart pounding. Steve Irwin (Of TV's "Crocodile Hunter") would probably say "Whoooooo-hoooooo, what a rush!". I used to say "%$^&*($$$@@@ ---- next time I'll let my brother open the gate to get the cows!" There's no mistaking that for a vibration! I would imagine that lightning would feel nothing like a vibration either. But I really don't want to find out. Another example to think about is the old "9V battery on the tongue" test. If you put a 9V battery on your tongue, it feels like a constant burning sensation, no vibration feeling, because it's DC. Chris ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. Visit our web site at: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/pstc/ To cancel your subscription, send mail to: majord...@ieee.org with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Michael Garretson: pstc_ad...@garretson.org Dave Heald davehe...@mediaone.net For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: ri...@ieee.org Jim Bacher: j.bac...@ieee.org All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.rcic.com/ click on "Virtual Conference Hall,"
