The Dangers of Electricity

By

Yong Li

Damaged Insulation
This is when the outer coating of the wire has cracked or peeled off. The wire is
exposed. Someone can touch the exposed wire and get electrocuted. The insulator
is usually made out of material like polymer such as PVC which is a bad conductor of
electricity. Sometimes 2 exposed wires touch so the current flows between 2 of those
wires.

Overheating Of Cables
Large currents flowing through wires can cause it to go on fire. A combined high
resistance can also cause a fire. Plugging to many power cables in one socket can
also result in a fire.

Damp Conditions
Damp conditions can cause current to flow outside wires because water is a
conductor of electricity. Touching a wire with wet hands can cause current to flow
through you to the earth, this could be fatal,

Safety Measures
Fuses _ Fuses have a thin wire inside which melts if the current is too
strong, thus breaking the circuit.

Circuit Breakers _ Circuit breakers work similarly to a fuse. They break

the circuit if the current is too strong. It works by using an electromagnet
to pull apart the contacts when theres a strong current.