Question

If we touch a naked current carrying wire, we get a shock. This is because our body is a:
A. conductor of electricity
B. insulator of electricity
C. source of electricity
D. both B and C

Answer 1

As a first step, one could read the question well and hence understand the situation well. Since the given wire is naked that would imply that there is no insulation provided for this wire. If there had been insulation, the person wouldn’t have got shocked in the first place. Now, let us see what property of the human body aids this.

Complete step-by-step solution:
In the question we are asked to give the correct explanation for us getting shocked on touching a naked current carrying wire from the given options.
We know that current only flows through a particular circuit when the switch is on and thereby completing the circuit.
So, on any human touching a naked wire that conducts current, he or she will definitely get shocked since the current does flow through their body.
When we touch a naked wire the current starts to flow to the ground through our body and due to that current flowing a violated difference created b/w wire and ground.
So, we could conclude that the human body is a conductor of current. Hence, option A is found to be the answer.

Note: Let us see how exactly the human body forms the ‘circuit’ to conduct current. When human feet touch the ground, he or she is making contact with the earth. We know that any circuit is said to be complete when earth connection is given. And hence the conduction of charges takes place through the human body. This point will also give you an idea on why a bird sitting on this wire doesn’t get shocked.