Why do I have low resistance?

[TechGirl]

When I was in college a few years back, we were discussing Resistance and Electrostatic Discharge.

My electronics lecturer tested some of our resistance. When he did mine, he was very surprised and checked it again to be sure and although I can't remember the reading now, it was incredibly low. It was so low he brought in another lecturer to show him too!

Does anyone know why my resistance would be so low and does it change, etc?

[newtron]

Do you not drink enough water? Maybe your electrolyte concentrations are very high. I'm just guessing though.

[TechGirl]

I probably don't drink enough water, no.

I go through phases where all I drink is water and then I won't really drink any for weeks.

[tony1941]

The resistance of your body is formed of two components:
a) the resistance inside, which is always low because it's soggy and wet and full of blood, and
b) the resistance through your skin, which will vary greatly with many factors (this is how a lie detector works), but could be lowered by becoming damp with emotion......did you fancy the lecturer, by any chance???

[TechGirl]

haha, no I did not fancy him. Wonderful man though.

I wasn't nervous about anything or terribly emotional. Electronics have the opposite affect on me :-)

If I remember correctly, I was COMPLETELY honest throughout the whole experiment. I may have taken the 'fifth amendment' once or twice just to be on the safe side! :-)

[mibn2cweus]

Did you eat chips for lunch? Were you wearing any silk? What was the actual physical location for the placement of the test probe? Perhaps a competition is in order; wagers anyone?

[TechGirl]

I never ate lunch at college. Yes I know, three healthy meals a day...

No silk.

The probes were held between our index finger and thumb.

Aprroximately 15 of us were tested and all the others had an average reading.

Maybe I'm just speacial...

[TechGirl]

*special*

[newtron]

So does that mean that if you are in a crowd of people outside and lightning strikes, it is more likely to hit you?

[TechGirl]

I hope not newtron!

I know my lecturer was forever making sure I had an ESD bracelet on and got me into the habit of keeping one hand in my pocket etc.

I doubt I should be too concerned. If I was standing with you newtron and lightning struck, I would grab your hand!

:-)

[tony1941]

I'm amazed to hear the recommendation to keep one hand in your pocket!! I thought it was only old dinosaurs like me who remembered that! I now work with a group of railway electrical engineers and they all looked at me with amazement when I started doing it. Very important, though - the lethal current flow is across the heart so as long as you only have one hand in use you are much safer if you accidentally touch a live part. Good luck to you - what are you planning to do for a living??

[TechGirl]

I may have been ever so slightly misleading when I said 'a few years back' about college. It makes me sound like I am younger but unfortunately I am not. I am 31.

In my work, ideally, I would like to be challenged. I would love to manage a network for a huge company.

You don't happen to own a huge company that lacks the talents of a Network Manager do you tony1941?

[tony1941]

Oh to be so young!! I'm 66 and should really be retired, but have to work full time designing power supplies for railway infrastructure - really boring after a life time doing more challenging things, but at least it pays the mrtgage. Sorry, no jobs going!!

[TechGirl]

I'm giving you three stars just for saying how young I am - Yes I'm THAT shallow!

:-)

[tony1941]

NIce talking to you, but we really shouldn't be meeting like this (site/topic) - can you suggest somewhere else to continue??
Tony