What causes electric shock?

• A. A high voltage alone is enough
• B. Static electricity near the skin
• C. Electrical current must pass through the body.
• D. A path to ground

Answer: (C)

Electric shock happens when electric current actually travels through the body. Voltage provides the potential difference that can push current, but without a conductive path through the body from one contact to another (or to ground), no current flows and no shock occurs. Static discharges near the skin may produce a brief spark, but they’re typically not a sustained current through the body. A path to ground by itself isn’t enough to cause a shock unless there’s a live source and a complete circuit through you. The level of danger depends on how much current flows, which depends on both the voltage and the body's resistance (wet skin lowers resistance and allows more current).