405

Like truly think about seeing this with 0 understanding of what it was

top 23 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old

I mean high voltage also takes the path of least resistance. But sometimes the path of least resistance is the air.

[-] cynar@lemmy.world 22 points 2 days ago

It actually takes all paths proportionally. This is partly why nearby lightning strikes are so dangerous. Even if the ground is a better conductor than your legs, enough current can still flow to stop your heart.

[-] Alexstarfire@lemmy.world 16 points 2 days ago

Why is your heart in your legs?

[-] cynar@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

There is a path, from the ground, up your leg, across your torso (including your heart) and down your other leg.

This is the reason that downed high voltage power lines are so dangerous. Walking with a long stride can create enough of a differential to fibrillate your heart.

[-] Alexstarfire@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Thank you, Drax.

[-] TheOakTree@lemmy.zip 7 points 1 day ago

In the eyes of the charge, your heart is just the path to your legs, like a driveway!

It's like a really flawed idea of love!

[-] becausechemistry@piefed.social 40 points 2 days ago

Basic science: there are conductors and there are insulators

Advanced science: also there are semiconductors because of quantum mechanics and stuff

Mad science: everything is a conductor if you’re brave enough

[-] pankuleczkapl@lemmy.dbzer0.com 26 points 2 days ago

Actual science: these are arbitrary categories of materials based on their band gaps, so these names don't really mean anything precise

[-] becausechemistry@piefed.social 18 points 2 days ago

Pfft sounds kinda woke to me smh my head

[-] ChaosMonkey@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 2 days ago

What do semiconductors have to do with quantum mechanics?

[-] becausechemistry@piefed.social 5 points 1 day ago

Orbital overlap leading to band gaps, mostly

[-] muzzle@lemmy.zip 34 points 2 days ago

Meanwhile high frequency signals: conductors? Where we are going we don't need conductors!

[-] cybervseas@lemmy.world 19 points 2 days ago

I understand it and still think it’s incredible. Lightning is on the order of 100 million volts, and 30 thousand amps. Wow.

[-] Shanedino@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

I would assume by electricity they mean current and it quite literally does not follow the path of least resistance it is just split inversly proportionally based on the resistance of paths.

[-] TheOakTree@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 day ago

The largest portion of current travels through the path of least resistance, so it's almost there. But not quite.

[-] Tlaloc_Temporal@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 day ago

Well the path of least resistance is pretty full right now, the path of next most resistance seems like less bother.

[-] zxqwas@lemmy.world 14 points 2 days ago

At high enough voltage everything becomes a conductor.

[-] WanderingThoughts@europe.pub 7 points 2 days ago

Just like in a river, water flows around the rocks but in a flood the rocks flow with the water.

[-] Zwiebel@feddit.org 10 points 2 days ago

High frequency enters the room

[-] Cat_Daddy@hexbear.net 13 points 2 days ago

My physics professor in college did his dissertation on lightning. He liked to use the expression, "everything is a conductor when the voltage is high enough".

[-] sharkfucker420@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 days ago

My climate and atmosphere professor last semester was specialized in studying lightning. Anytime the topic came up he would get really excited about it. Can't blame him, its pretty rad tbh. Every few classes he'd come in with pictures of lightning from his most recent stormchase

[-] NeatNit@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 2 days ago

The dose makes the poison!

[-] thatradomguy@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago
this post was submitted on 24 Dec 2025
405 points (97.6% liked)

Science Memes

17860 readers
593 users here now

Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!

A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.



Rules

  1. Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
  2. Keep it rooted (on topic).
  3. No spam.
  4. Infographics welcome, get schooled.

This is a science community. We use the Dawkins definition of meme.



Research Committee

Other Mander Communities

Science and Research

Biology and Life Sciences

Physical Sciences

Humanities and Social Sciences

Practical and Applied Sciences

Memes

Miscellaneous

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS