214 



Common Science 



FiG. 119. Electricity flows through the coin. 



How you can get an electrical shock. A person's 

 body is not a very good conductor of electricity, but 

 will conduct it somewhat. When electricity goes through 

 your body, you get a shock. The shock from the ordi- 

 nary current of electricity, no volts, is not enough to 

 injure you at all ; in fact, if you were standing on dry 

 wood, it would be safe, although you would get a slight 

 shock, to connect the blade of a knife switch to the slot 

 of the switch, through your hand or body. Your body 

 would not allow enough current to pass through it to 

 light the lamp. Stronger currents, like those of power 

 lines and even trolley wires, are extremely dangerous. 



All the electric wires entering your house are made of 

 copper. They are all covered with cloth and rubber 

 and are fastened with glass or porcelain knobs. The 



